Deerhoof, “The Magic”
Available: Friday, June 24, via Polyvinyl Records as a download, CD and purple-tinted cassette tape or clear purple vinyl LP.
To suggest the San Francisco-based avant-garde/experimental rockers are anything short of hyper-talented would be a drastic understatement. They may not make your exact brand of underground pop music, but just give them a minute or two and I promise, they’ll get to it. Their collective focus and razor-sharp talent is undeniable and not open for debate. Since forming in 1995, the late ’90s core lineup of Satomi Matsuzaki (vocals, bass guitar), John Dieterich (guitar) and Greg Saunier (vocals, drums) have been making stylistically-varied music that is both superbly simple and wildly complex.
Unsurprisingly and sonically speaking, the band genre bends seamlessly, fusing noise-punk, dream pop, downtempo electronica, found-sound, garage rock and art-house endurance psychedelia into a inexplicably-cohesive sound that is uniquely their own. “The Magic” typifies that shape-shifting, yet manages to present a fluid record that is thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. The live show is expectedly comparable, with set lists spanning their 12-plus album discography and tracks running the gamut from slow burners to spazz glam punk. Catch them if you’re able to (July 18 in Salt Lake City or Aug. 3 in Denver).
Especially recommended for fans of Meow Wolf, Cibo Matto, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Thee Oh Sees, The Olivia Tremor Control, Sonic Youth or The Flaming Lips.
Jon E. Lynch[email protected]
