Deerhunter - Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.
(Kranky) 2CD, 2LP Nov. 15!
Bradford Cox’s exploits over the past 2 years often overshadowed Deerhunter’s music. But beginning with his solo project earlier this year (Atlas Sound) & now with Microcastle, Cox seems to have finally embraced the gift. Microcastle bears the hypnotic tunnel vision of Cryptograms but winds all that shimmering in taught pop structures, much akin to the brilliance hinted at with the Fluorescent Grey EP. “Agoraphobia” goes right at you with direct rhythm & intelligible vocals — “comfort me“ pleads Cox — while “Nothing Ever Happens” wields effervescent melodies out-popping anything Deerhunter or Atlas Sound have committed to tape so far. The Strokes comparisons do rings true, but there’s oodles of Sonic Youth & by the time you make it to tracks like “Operation” on Weird Era Cont. (disc 2 of this sweet lil’ package!), it’s good ol’ Velvet Underground that seems to have posessed this whole venture. One of 2008’s best.