Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest (4AD)

When Deerhunter's frontman Bradford Cox was asked what the album's title meant, he replied, "the album's title is a reference to a collection of fond memories and even invented ones, like my friendship with Ricky Wilson or the fact that I live in an abandoned Victorian autoharp factory. The way that we write and rewrite and edit our memories to be a digest version of what we want to remember, and how that's kind of sad." Interesting concept for Deerhunter's fourth studio album.

Since 2001 Bradford Cox and Deerhunter have been crafting slightly dark, plastered shoegaze indie rock that blends itself with spot-on songwriting. 2008's double LP Microcastle/Weird Era Cont. was the height of Deerhunter's power. Now comes 2010's follow up Halcyon Digest. One thought that came across my mind from first impressions of Halcyon Digest is the sound that seems to blend Deerhunter's traditional dark shoegazy progression with Cox's solo work (Atlas Sound) art pop feel. From the hazy lo-fi "Basement Scene" to fist pumping jam "Coronado", Halcyon Digest is the most consistent and ironically, diverse.

Starting off with the sounds of electronic drum machines on opener "Earthquake" but is immediately filled in with oceanic, relaxing guitar lines that back Cox's opening line "do you recall waking up on a dirty couch in the gray fog?". With this combination, of a drum machine chilling guitar lines and surreal lyrics signifies Deerhunter's ability to make different elements combine into a beautiful and coherent sound. On leading single "Revival", Deerhunter puts together a fast-paced, pop-like song that completely contradicts the next up song "Sailing". "Sailing" might be the most emotionally driving track on Halcyon Digest with it's distant, shaky guitar line with Cox's heart-filled lyrics.

Halcyon Digest is full of interesting songs and intricate melodies. One of the most intricate of these is "Helicopter". "Helicopter" is one of the most beautifully crafted tracks on Halcyon Digest with some of the best song-writing around. "Take my hand and pray with me/My final days in company," Cox sings out on the opening lines of "Helicopter". Deerhunter's use of different, assorted instruments like the saxophone, harp and others is very interesting and makes for one of the most fun listens of 2010.

Overall, Halcyon Digest is a combination of Atlas Sound and Deerhunter's past to create a crafty, intricate album that is booming with influence from all the right sources. Hits like "Helicopter" and "Desire Lines" make Halcyon Digest a album of the year contender.

Overall: 8.6/10

Track Listing:

1. Earthquake - 9.0
2. Don't Cry - 8.0
3. Revival - 8.5
4. Sailing - 8.5
5. Memory Boy - 8.0
6. Desire Lines - 9.0
7. Basement Scene - 9.0
8. Helicopter - 9.0
9. Fountain Stairs - 8.5
10. Coronado - 8.5
11. He Would Have Laughed - 8.5

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