Siberian Breaks

"Siberian Breaks" is a song released by psychedelic rock band MGMT on their second studio album, Congratulations. It is the longest track on the album and MGMT's second longest song to date, clocking in a minute and a half behind "Metanoia." Andrew VanWyngarden has said that Siberian Breaks is his favorite song on the album.^[1]

For Record Store Day, the band released a limited-edition 12" blue marble vinyl single featuring the full 12-minute album version of "Siberian Breaks" on side A, with side B featuring a special etched design. There were 2000 copies pressed and it is said to be the "perfect companion piece to the album".^[2]^[3]

VanWyngarden says of the song, "It's kind of like eight different songs strung together into one, and the general theme is about surfing in the Arctic Circle by Russia."^[4]

Sonic Boom commentary of the track, before the Congratulations sessions at the Blanker Unsinn Studio on 2010: "A Pop Surf Opera, after the storm, the loss of Ego. Brakers on the Beach. Hangin Ten with the Hodads. Distraction. The Sandy Smiles as the Sun Squints its way. A new day. Cleansed. Ready. Surf's Up! Piss or pass the Pot." ^[5]

Reception

"...One of which is 'Siberian Breaks', MGMT's most ambitious undertaking yet. Just over 12 minutes long, 'Siberian Breaks' starts off in breezy MOR fashion, gentle harmonies giving it a 70s Todd Rundgren-vibe. Soon, though, they're ramping up the reverb, 'Siberian Breaks' taking its first left turn after 2 minutes, veering into a quietly seething stomp and then turning into a different song entirely 4 minutes in, resembling the Twin Peaks soundtrack if Jason Pierce got his valium-stained mitts on it. Next, airy, atmospheric keyboards lead it out of the hazy wilderness before the chorus (well, sort of) comes booming in at around 8 minutes. But hold on – we ain't finished yet, or rather 'Siberian Breaks' isn't – just when you think the whole thing is about to peter out 10 minutes in (IDIOT!), in comes bleeping, starry-eyed synths, twinkling like the intro to Radiohead's 'Let Down' and lending 'Siberian Breaks' a suitably cosmic finale. MGMT tried out a 14-minute song on 'Oracular…' b-side 'Metanoia'"^[6]

"It’s almost unfair to discuss Siberian Breaks in a track-by-track review because it feels like more than one track. In 12 minutes, it carries out the promises made by Flash Delirium and changes shape constantly and without warning. Andrew Vanwyngarden has said Siberian Breaks is about eight different songs strung together - and listening to it again, eight might be underestimating things. The song begins in the same folkadelic territory as Song For Dan Treacy but steadfastly refuses to stay put. Over its full course, Siberian Breaks grows to accommodate distorting synthesizers, stadium-sized drums and a change of time signature. It passes through a shimmering synthtopia to a powerful glam chorus (of sorts) and finally runs out of steam in an ambient delirium of bleeping synths. The sections sometimes blend seamlessly together and sometimes jar uncomfortably but you have to admire the ambition of this rag-tag monolith."^[7]

References

External links

MGMT

Andrew VanWyngarden
Ben Goldwasser
James Richardson
Matt Asti
Will Berman

Studio albums

Extended plays

Demo albums

Climbing to New Lows

Live albums

Compilation albums

Late Night Tales: MGMT

Singles

Oracular Spectacular	"Time to Pretend" "Electric Feel" "Kids"

Congratulations	"Flash Delirium" "Siberian Breaks" "It's Working" "Congratulations"

MGMT	"Alien Days" "Your Life Is a Lie"

Non album singles	"Metanoia"

Collaborations

"Pursuit of Happiness"
"Worm Mountain"
"Call From The Bank"
"Art Is Everywhere"
"Future Games"

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