MGMT and their album Oracular Spectacular have been making waves of both sides of the Atlantic. The band are a part of the new wave of American talent that has been crossing the pond. NME selected them in their Ten Artists to Watch in 2008 and the BBC placed them 9th in their Sound poll. Since then they have released their début album, reaching 12 in the UK album charts, and topping the Billboard Heatseekers chart in the US. The band are Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser who combine to produce an uplifting ,electronic, psychedelic pop sound.
MGMT have been keeping good company in 2008, having already supported Radiohead and Beck. They’ve also been on the festival circuit playing Glastonbury and Leeds here in the UK, the Conchella festival in California and SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas. They’ve also found the time to go and perform in Canada and Japan.
Touring relentlessly, the band have confirmed dates throughout the UK in November – their third UK tour this year. The band definitely work hard, describing each other as ‘ practically spontaneous and spontaneously practical.’ Either way the pair produce arresting tracks that are as hook-laden as they are exciting and experimental. Their current touring line up includes Will Berman (drums), James Richardson (guitar), and Matthew Asti on bass.
MGMT are no strangers to TV either, having appeared on the Conan O’Brien Show. The host, of course, wasn’t going to be out done by David Letterman who had MGMT play ‘Time to Pretend’ two months earlier. The song can also be heard as the opener to the massive film 21, starring Kevin Spacey. Their music has been featured on several hit TV shows, Skins, Gossip Girl, and the new version of 90210 .
After the release of their first EP Time to Pretend, released on the tiny Cantora Records, they signed to Columbia Records having been picked up by A&R man Steve Lillywhite. Their subsequent release of Oracular Spectacular, an album produced by Dave Fridmann, of Flaming Lips fame, confirmed their place as part of Columbia’s and America’s new wave of talent emerging in 2008.
Looking to the future, MGMT have announced that they are looking to collaborate with well-known UK dance duo, The Chemical Brothers, as they search for a new sound. Any results might be several months off but with the UK tour in November, now is the perfect time to catch MGMT.

Peter Ruppert