Pitchfork

To many listeners, the bubbly and sometimes goofy demeanor of psychedelic-pop masks the genre's savvy production and masterful compositions. Because 17-piece drum kits and wanking on Ibanezes and are unfortunately still considered appropriate medians of showcasing talent, the musicianship of Elephant 6 artists often goes unnoticed. While E6 survivors Of Montreal's "Spike the Senses" (from Satanic Panic in the Attic) requires only a set ears to be enjoyed, careful listening and a set of headphones are necessary to capture the essence of the multifaceted track's ingenuity.

Every instrument featured in "Spike the Senses"' vibrant musical collage was performed, recorded, mixed and produced by frontman Kevin Barnes, displaying his knack of arranging dozens of overdubs without creating a sense of clutter. Within the first verse, a slew of instruments-- including sleigh bells, phasing guitar, double-tracked piano, and synthesizer-- capture both serenity and create a solid foundation for its two-part chorus. A minor-keyed fuzz bass strains to bring the chorus to a new key as Kevin Barnes sings, "Trying to find a way to spike the senses/ Till everything goes white." Eventually, the bass and reversed cymbals achieve the desired major key, erasing the tension and creating a glorious resolution. Blanketing the lyrics with brighter instrumentation, the second part of the chorus urges the listener to let loose and share the joy in Barnes' pure, Athenian vocals. "Spike the Senses" ends with an unexpected airy denouement, a fitting finale for a track that manages to achieve beauty without an epic solo or sixteenth note drumming.