Passion Pit
Kindred (Columbia)
Three stars
From Beyoncé's Crazy in Love to the Insane Clown Posse, mental-illness references are often bandied about in popular-music parlance, yet the tricksy taboo is rarely broken in particularly educated or sympathetic terms.
American “indietronica” act Passion Pit are an unapologetic exception to that rule — the band’s chief architect, Michael Angelakos, has openly discussed his own battles with bipolar disorder and enthusiastically supports mental-health charities.
Far from catalysing a downcast listening experience, however, the two Passion Pit albums to date have been sonically characterised by a heady elation.
Manners was arguably 2009's best breakout record, powered by the cult single Sleepyhead. Gossamer, which followed three years later, propelled Passion Pit into the top 10 of the US Billboard charts and onto arena stages in their native country.
That newfound fame came at a price, with Angelakos cancelling tour dates at about the time of Gossamer to tackle his continuing problems. Gladly, on Kindred, he appears to be in a good place once again.
Continuing to mine a distinctly intimate seam — first seen on Passion Pit's debut EP, which was recorded as a present to the frontman's then girlfriend — Kindred peaks early with its first single, Lifted Up (1985). Full of stomping keyboards and kitschy reference points, its chorus showcases Angelakos's ear for a melody that you'll catch yourself humming at inopportune moments several days later, declaring that "1985 was a good year".
On initial spins, nothing else quite matches that impact, but Kindred ultimately proves to be something of a slow burner. Several of the subsequent highlights also harbour darker moments, often hidden among an outwardly carefree jangle.
Dancing on the Grave is as close as Angelakos has thus far come to a full-on ballad, with vulnerable lines aplenty (particularly his recurring realisations that "I can't stay here").
My Brother Taught Me How to Swim, by comparison, retains Passion Pit's signature sound, underpinned by talk of childhood exploits that could equally be read as a metaphor for Angelakos's personal struggles.
The singer’s helium-kissed intonations have had a tendency to skirt sickly-sweet territory over the course of an entire album, although at a concise 37 minutes, there’s scarcely time to get nauseous over anything here.
And while Kindred doesn't deliver the exhilarating indie-rock head-rush that first announced Passion Pit to the world, if it's the sound of a man coming to peace with himself, then it would seem cruel to find too much fault.
aworkman@thenational.ae
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Mobile phone packages comparison
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
In Praise of Zayed
A thousand grains of Sand whirl in the sky
To mark the journey of one passer-by
If then a Cavalcade disturbs the scene,
Shall such grains sing before they start to fly?
What man of Honour, and to Honour bred
Will fear to go wherever Truth has led?
For though a Thousand urge him to retreat
He'll laugh, until such counsellors have fled.
Stands always One, defiant and alone
Against the Many, when all Hope has flown.
Then comes the Test; and only then the time
Of reckoning what each can call his own.
History will not forget: that one small Seed
Sufficed to tip the Scales in time of need.
More than a debt, the Emirates owe to Zayed
Their very Souls, from outside influence freed.
No praise from Roderic can increase his Fame.
Steadfastness was the Essence of his name.
The changing years grow Gardens in the Sand
And build new Roads to Sand which stays the same.
But Hearts are not rebuilt, nor Seed resown.
What was, remains, essentially Alone.
Until the Golden Messenger, all-wise,
Calls out: "Come now, my Friend!" - and All is known
- Roderic Fenwick Owen
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
