Atlas Sound is the brand new, entirely solo debut of Deerhunter frontman/musical rebel Bradford Cox. In Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel, listeners get an auditory meditation of ambient, memory-evoking soundscapes. For essentially a homespun, Atlanta bedroom album, this is one of the most subtlety intriguing, honest and ambient musical efforts of late. In Cox’s own words:
“This album is for my best friend Lockett. It has a lot to do with childhood. I wanted to make an album that was uplifting but honest, which is why it seems sad a lot of the time. I want to make music that could be ‘healing’ or therapeutic to people who relate to it.”
Indeed, his music evokes a sense of a haunted yet hopeful past, with dense guitar and odd instrument samplings, whispered vocals and sensual ponderings. This album is a successful mish-mash of experimental recording techniques and garage-rock influences, which results in a surprisingly unique pop-like outcome by a true queer art punk.
The entire album is worthy of repeated listening for the mere subtleties that are woven throughout. The album on Krank Records is hard to describe in concrete terms. Nonetheless, it is a thoroughly unique and pleasant interpretation on the healing of past memories.
“Recent Bedroom” is a slurry magic carpet ride of overdubbed guitar, tapes of treated drums and percussion, a music box, vibraphone and assorted electronics.
“Quarantined” offers mbira, metallophone and Ghana bells looped together with steady guitar, bass and collaged acoustic drums. Throw in an electronic bass program and glockenspiel, and the result is a seamless mix of complex, softly forceful and upbeat music to dance to in a daydream.
A Zen mist surrounds and lifts the meditative sounds of “On Guard.” Gong bowls, electric piano, organ and various other percussion instruments combine with psychedelic pitch vocals. The song seems appropriate for playing during lift-off into outer space, or when getting a Swedish massage. Ahhhh.
For a bit of a lounge-type atmosphere, “Cold as Ice” delivers. The vocals describe entering the back room of a gay bar. “Walk into back room. Back room. Walk into back room. Back room. Cold as ice, cold as ice. Waiting there. Cold as ice,” Cox sings.
“Scraping Past” is nothing short of lovely. The bass lines match beautifully with the groaning lyrics that echo repeatedly. The tension that accumulates is dissipated by the rhythm and harmony that soothes.
A mystical and exotic mood is evoked in the mostly instrumental track “After Class.” Tremolo guitar and barely there vocals are layered along with bit-crushed percussion, bells, bass and various other electronic gadgetry to provoke a sense of slow majesty.
Listeners who can appreciate popish, surf-driven 80s-esque tunes, which resemble the likes of old Pixies, will undoubtedly take to the song “Ativan.” Slow, weepy, surf-twang guitar sets the pace with slightly off-center and layered vocals. This song is probably the most rock-oriented in nature, but don’t be fooled. Atlas Sound/Cox is keen on throwing out curve balls. While the tempo is upbeat and calm, the vocals tell a different story. This is the story of a disgruntled, lovesick boy whose boyfriend is off with a newfound girlfriend.
Atlas Sound’s new album of mixed sound is a definite keeper.