Aethermead

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Aethermead
Studio album by
of Montreal
ReleasedJune 5, 2026 (2026-06-05)
Studio
Length41:18
LabelPolyvinyl
ProducerKevin Barnes
of Montreal chronology
Lady on the Cusp
(2024)		 Aethermead
(2026)
Singles from Aethermead
  1. "When"
    Released: April 2, 2026
  2. "Already Dreaming"
    Released: May 5, 2026
  3. "Take the Form"
    Released: June 2, 2026

Aethermead, stylized in all lowercase, is the twentieth studio album of American indie rock band of Montreal. It was released on June 5, 2026, through Polyvinyl Records.

Background

Before writing the album, singer Kevin Barnes split from his then-fiancée Christina Schneider after eight years. After the break-up, Barnes moved from Vermont to Brooklyn, where he was then inspired to create the new album.[2] The album was announced on April 2, 2026, along with the release of a new single, "When".[3] A month prior to the album's announcement, the band announced a tour with openers CorMae and Sloppy Jane.[4] The album's title is based off the Nethermead area in Prospect Park.[5] On May 5, the second single from the album released, "Already Dreaming". The music video that released alongside it was directed by Beatrice Barnes, the daughter of Kevin Barnes.[6] The band's third single released June 2, a song titled "Take the Form".[7]

Tour

On June 19, 2026, of Montreal started their summer North American tour in support of the album at the 40 Watt Club in the band's hometown of Athens, Georgia.[8] The openers CorMae and Sloppy Jane are listed to both open for the band for each half of the tour dates respectively, the sole exception being one show in Nashville, Tennessee where no opener is listed.[9] For a show at The Sinclair in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a second opener performed along with CorMae, Boyhood.[10] The tour is set to conclude on August 8, 2026, in Birmingham, Alabama.[11]

This tour was the first to feature Matthew Danger Lippman with the band since joining on guitar and keys.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Kevin Barnes.

aethermead track listing[12]
No.TitleLength
1."Already Dreaming"3:08
2."Wanting on Air"3:02
3."Listen to Music and Cry"2:51
4."My Zhe Zhe"2:23
5."Take the Form"3:05
6."When"2:32
7."Hack it Up"3:22
8."Lacan in the Family"2:54
9."Having a Moment"3:32
10."From the Font of You"4:50
11."To Nothing's Reward"2:32
12."Now We Cringe at the Thought"3:24
13."Dismissal Mosaics"3:43
Total length:41:18

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's Bandcamp page.[1]

of Montreal

Additional contributors

  • Drew Vandenberg – engineering
  • Mike Nolte – mastering
  • David Barnes – artwork
  • Ryan Miller – layout

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[13]
Review scores
SourceRating
Beats Per Minute76/100[14]
Far Out4/5[15]
PasteB+[16]
Pitchfork6.1/10[17]

The album released to mixed-to-positive reviews. Paste magazine praised the album's vulnerability and the "band-centric" focus.[18] Far Out magazine also praised the lyricism on the album, Reuben Cross writing "(...) they’ve pared back the loquaciousness and gone for a more direct approach that sparingly flaunts how literary they can be."[19]

Pitchfork's Ethan Beck wrote that the music is "drab" and "lacks the personality and vision of their best work" and rated the album a 6.1/10.[20]

References

  1. "aethermead, by of Montreal". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  2. Redfern, Mark. "of Montreal Shares Video for New Song "Already Dreaming" Directed by Kevin Barnes' Daughter". Under the Radar Magazine. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  3. "of Montreal Announce New Album 'aethermead': Hear "When"". stereogum.com. April 2, 2026. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  4. Pearis, Bill. "of Montreal announce North American tour with Sloppy Jane & CorMae". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  5. Coplan, Chris (April 2, 2026). "of Montreal Announce New Album aethermead, Share Forceful Lead Single "When"". Consequence. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  6. ""Already Dreaming" From of Montreal Augurs An End And A New Beginning". Wildfire Music + News. May 6, 2026. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  7. "Spotify – Web Player". Spotify. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  8. "OF MONTREAL". www.visitathensga.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2026. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  9. "WNXP Presents: Of Montreal". WNXP 91.1 FM. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  10. "of Montreal, Boyhood, Cormae". HUMP DAY NEWS. June 24, 2026. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  11. Green, Walden (March 17, 2026). "Of Montreal Plot Summer 2026 North American Tour". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  12. "Spotify". open.spotify.com. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  13. "aethermead by Of Montreal" – via Metacritic.
  14. Zivkovic, Ljubinko (June 8, 2026). "Album Review: Of Montreal – aethermead". Beats Per Minute.
  15. Cross, Reuben (June 4, 2026). "Of Montreal - 'Aethermead' album review". faroutmagazine.co.uk.
  16. "of Montreal, 'aethermead' Album Review".
  17. Beck, Ethan. "Of Montreal: Aethermead". Pitchfork.
  18. Reed, Ryan (June 6, 2026). "of Montreal, 'aethermead' Album Review". Paste Magazine. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  19. Cross, Reuben (June 4, 2026). "Of Montreal - 'Aethermead' album review". faroutmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  20. Beck, Ethan. "Of Montreal: Aethermead". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 14, 2026.