What a lovely EP from LA-based J. Irvin Dally. Like a Bradford Cox protege, he’s got a knack for creating expansive, experimental bedroom folk that will melt your mind. Simply brilliant. His EP, “Despistado”, was re-released this year and he’s on the road for some West Coast dates landing in San Francisco this Saturday, September 18 at Brainwash (yes, you read that right) for a performance. I mean, where else can you hear great music, have dinner AND do your laundry at the same time? A definite ‘must’ for the Type A multi-tasker.
Bradford Cox is a genius. That’s all there is to it. And a prolific one at that. Between his work with Deerhunter and his solo work under the alias Atlas Sound, I’m more than satiated, compelled and intrigued. Cox, who suffers from Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by abnormally long limbs, uses his music as a portal into is pain. Who knew suffering could sound so good.
His second album, ‘Logos’, is just as good as his first, ‘Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See...‘ and features a couple collaborations: “Walkabout ” with Noah Lennox of Panda Bear, and the centerpiece of the album for me, “Quick Canal” with Stereolab’s Lætitia Sadier that is truly sublime. The 9 minute journey is like an homage to the late Mary Hansen days of Stereolab. Perfection. Just put your headphones on and get lost.
Atlas Sound and Broadcast play Great American Music Hall in San Francisco tonight.
The solo project of Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox, Atlas Sound, has released a most amazing cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Walk A Thin Line”. Genius. Atlas Sound is playing The Great American Music Hall on November 3 with Broadcast. An excellent show indeed.
More than likely you’ve heard of Deerhunter. Their last album, Microcastle, topped many ‘Best Of’ lists last year, including mine. But what about Circulatory System? Yeah, me neither but you soon will – trust me. I got tipped on their forthcoming album, Signal Morning, recently, took a listen and have been smiling ever since. It was like listening to Deerhunter on a Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. Holy head trip! This is fan-fucking-tastic, who are these guys?
As it turns out, Circulatory System has been around a while and share much in common with Deerhunter. Both were formed in 2001 in Georgia, have received critical acclaim and have front men tormented by disease. Circulatory System was founded by Will Cullen Hart after Olivia Tremor Control fell dormant in 2000. He and most of the other Olivias now comprise much of the band. Their eponymous debut album was released that same year to much critical acclaim and their long awaited sophomore release, Signal Morning, is finally due out September 8.
Seven and a half years in the making, Signal Morning has been sculpted from countless hours of recordings. The end product is a heady, complex and orchestral sonic journey. The songs, composed by Hart, explore his battle with Mutliple Sclerosis – much in the same way as Bradford Cox explores his plight with Marfan Syndrome in his work with Deerhunter and Atlas Sound. And like Deerhunter’s trajectory with Microcastle, I expect this album will explode and take them to a higher level.
P.S. Rumor has it that Olivia Tremor Control is together and recording again too!
Deerhunter kicked off the Noise Pop Festival this Tuesday at San Francisco’s Mezzanine and holy shit was it good. Ranking right up there as my favorite live performance so far in 2009, but we are just getting started. They pulled out quite a few new songs early on in the set but after a few quirky interludes from Bradford Cox the band got down to business and had us knee deep in Microcastle yumminess. For those of you who pulled out early before the encore, you don’t know what you missed. The band delivered a relentless, blistering, mind-blowing wall of sound finale that left me with goosebumps and grins all night long.
Artist: Deerhunter Album: Weird Era Cont File Under: Ambient Indie Rock Recommended if You Like: Sigur Ros, Radiohead, Grizzly Bear, Atlas Sound Featured Track: ‘Operation‘
Oh happy day! Weird Era Cont., the second disc from Deerhunter’s October release, Microcastle, is out now. I’ve been listening to it non-stop since yesterday and it more than holds its own as an album, unlike many bonus discs. Both albums are on heavy rotation. I couldn’t be more excited about the music Deerhunter is putting out right now. And you should be too. As fellow blogger, This Recording, put it:
‘Bradford Cox is the indie rock Jesus, ready to die for our musical sins. This guy is gay, possibly a virgin, and frighteningly skinny due to Marfan Syndrome which will likely lead to a premature death. Is there anyone you could root for more? On top of that he put out what is arguably the best album of the year, and he helped reinvigorate a genre that was drifting into irrelevance – indie rock.’
the OCMD 