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“I was born already nailed to the cross,” sings Bradford Cox in Snakeskin – the seventh song on Deerhunter’s nine-track album Fading Frontier, released this week. It’s the reoccurring themes of darkness like those that confirm the 33-year-old frontman Brandon, is happy humouring us with the bleaker elements of his life. After a car crash in 2014, Cox plays with the idea of mortality throughout Fading Frontier, treating it as a diary for his truthful narrative.
It’s been 10 years since the lo-fi debut Turn It Up Faggot, and the band seem to have evolved into something more complex and refined. Having had eight former members over the past seven studio albums, Bradford Cox stands as the longest serving member. We’re always in his world.
Synthesisers are scattered across the album giving it a poppy ‘80s impression, and the band emit a true American Indie sound that is at times reminiscent of The Strokes. This album celebrates production from Ben H Allen, who has worked with them before – giving Fading Frontier elements of familiarity for fans of Halcyon Digest.
Opening track All the Same gives away no clue to what the rest of the record holds. Fading Frontier goes on to be what could be described as a Long Island Iced Tea of genres. It’s only until you’re deep into the second half of the record when you can start to relax into the pace. In songs such as Take Care we hear Deerhunter’s psychedelic tendencies fully channel through as the drums go from defined to carefree. Ad Astra is a stand-out psychedelic gem on the album.
Each song somehow manages to include a debate about life, “I believe we can die I believe we can live again”. It’s clear that Cox has a firm hold on the topic of death, especially after coming close to it himself, “Jack knifed/On the street crossing/I’m still alive/And that’s something”. Although seeming assured, weakness is still a theme. We hear this in Living My Life where Cox admits to fear. Like most of us, he’s scared and this is what makes his music powerful.
For an album that explores so many sounds, it’s no wonder that at times it comes across as sporadic. Snakeskin – the most upbeat song on the album – is placed in the calmer second half of the album between the two most relaxed songs. It almost sounds like it was mistakenly placed.
In Leather and Wood, they sound like an entirely different band. It’s hard to tell whether this is the new direction the band are going in, but regardless the new creative confidence seems to opens up a new creative dimension for the Atlanta quartet.
Watch the video for Snakeskin below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG6jk5Q90DA&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=4AD+Press+News&utm_campaign=ecd185b794-Living+My+Life&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3a783d58b3-ecd185b794-113213897
by Katrina Mirpuri
Deerhunter will be playing a European tour. See dates below:
October 29: PARIS, Pitchfork Festival
October 30: BRIGHTON, All Saints Church
October 31: LIVERPOOL, Liverpool Music Week
November 01: DUBLIN Button Factory
November 03: GLASGOW, SWG3
November 04: LEEDS, Brudenell Social Club
November 06: MANCHESTER, Gorilla
November 07: LONDON, Shepherds Bush Empire
November 09: TOURCOING, La Grand Mix
November 10: REIMS, La Cartonerrie
November 11: NIMES, Paloma
November 12: MILAN, Magnolia
November 13: BOLOGNA, Bronson
November 14: GENEVA, L’usine
November 15: ZURICH, Rote Fabrik
November 16: HEIDELBERG, Kulturhaus Karlstorbahnhof
November 18: BERLIN, Lido
November 19: COPENHAGEN, Vega
November 21: BRUSSELS, Botanique Orangerie
November 22: UTRECHT, Le Guess Who Festival
Deerhunter’s nine-track album Fading Frontier was released on October 16th on 4AD. It’s available to buy digitally or physically.