Ray LaMontagne's sixth album will surprise friend and foe. The American dives into the history of psychedelic rock. Under the guidance of producer Jim James ( ), the singer has to compete against screeching fuzz guitars and spatial echoes. That will be a shock for people who know him as an introverted singer / songwriter. Since his debut (2004) LaMontagne distinguished itself with sparingly arranged
… blues, country and soul. After three albums his sound became less adventurous and a bit more commercial. He is very hard on Ouroboros with both trends. Never before has LaMontagne sounded so dirty and his sound so loud. 'You're never going to hear this song on the radio', he rightly sings towards the end of the record. The singer does not focus on the radio either. Ouroboros is a cool concept in the best tradition. You have to keep spinning such an album consecutively to really appreciate the music. The title also refers to this: ouroboros is the symbol of the eternal circle. It wouldn't be a punishment to hear this album endlessly. (JE)more