following the release of their critically praised debut, cryptograms, deerhunter issued the aptly titled EP, flourescent grey. where cryptograms was the equivalent of an aural miasma: hazy, ambient, cyclical and often puzzling, flourescent grey was as its title suggested: tight, poppy, and yet still tied to the gloom of its predecessor. microcastle continues along that same path, offering a more revealing glimpse of the band in a moment where they’ve seemingly let their guard down. singer bradford cox has taken a bit of a leap of faith here, as his vocals are no longer disguised by numerous effects and loops. he’s being far more open with his work, which suggests that he’s in a much more comfortable place this time around, but also a much more vulnerable one. with its brilliant and shimmering songs, microcastle is far less reliant on shoegazey tropes, having shifted to more dreamy aesthetics of baroque-pop (ala the beach boys or grizzly bear), which further suggests openness as well as vulnerability. what these changes all add up to is a stunning and logical shift for deerhunter, one that elevates and exposes their songs to the level they deserve. a risky move, but one that has paid off in full.
Filed under: Album Review , 2008, bradford cox, cryptograms, deerhunter, flourescent grey, microcastle
