Outsiders’ outsiders, Atlanta, Georgia indie band Deerhunter are at the stage with this, their eighth album, where they have little to prove: all to the good, too. They sound relaxed, ready to ease the listener into the new year – even though, thematically, they are dealing in global tensions. It’s co-produced by the band alongside Cate Le Bon, Ben H. Allen III and Ben Etter. It’s true to the spirit of collaboration, all dense with interesting textures and ideas.
Le Bon’s handsome harpsichord on the sumptuous, trippy Death In Midsummer is not the only surprise here. No-one’s Sleeping is a noirish conceit, with Bowie-esque brass and crashing percussion. It’s stately, eerie and beautiful, as Bradford Cox directly addresses the civil unrest of Britain. Inspired by the shocking murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016, its lyrics about urban tension could equally apply to the rise of right-wing factions in contemporary America, France and Russia.
The ambition and contemplative direction here really suits them. It’s a far broader musical palette than before. Instrumental Greenpoint Gothic suggests they’ve been hitting 80s electro deep into the winter months; there are pizzicato plinks and shimmering synths all over Detournement, and Element is sleek and slinky chamber pop.
But it’s Tarnung which is most disarming. Le Bon sings with Cox over a beautiful piece of ambient music with choppy percussion which is at once reminiscent of the minimalist compositions of Reich, Cage and Riley, as well as Bowie’s excursions in Berlin with Brian Eno and Iggy Pop.
Good to know Bowie’s ghost is still guiding musicians on shadowy walking tours, navigating others safely and easily through difficult detours.