Atlanta’s Bradford Cox has become something of an underground celebrity of late. From his loping gait and distinctive emaciated frame to his out-and-proud gay virgin sexuality to his much discussed accidental leaking of new material on the internet (and the subsequent ongoing message board meleé) Cox courts controversy at every turn. Whether this is intentionally or (as I believe) inadvertently, it has certainly intensified the interest on his various music projects. 

Nothing if not prolific, Bradford works constantly under a variety of monickers, the main two being solo ambientXcore project Atlas Sound and his four piece “ambient-punk” band Deerhunter. Continue Reading

Our mates over at 4AD have had some rather grand news, that they’ll be releasing Deerhunter’s latest album, Microcastle, on October 27th outside the US of A (which gets the release via Kranky on the 28th).

Microcastle is the follow-up to 2006’s Cryptograms and was recorded in a week at Rare Book Studios in Brooklyn, NY with Nicolas Verhes.

It was recorded with the four-piece Bradford Cox (whose Atlas Sound solo effort 4AD put out recently), Lockett Pundt, Joshua Fauver and Moses Archuleta. Bradford features as lead vocalist on most album tracks except ‘Agoraphobia’ and ‘Neither Of Us, Uncertainly’ (both sung by guitarist Lockett) and ‘Saved By Old Times’ (vocal college lended by Cole Alexander of The Black Lips).

The first single to be taken off the album will be ‘Nothing Ever Happened’ which will be issued on limited edition 7″ vinyl and backed with ‘Little Kids (Demo)’. Release date for this will be confirmed shortly but will precede the album.

You can hear ‘Nothing Ever Happened’ and another album track ‘Never Stops’ on their MySpace page.

Tracklisting:
1. Cover Me (Slowly)
2. Agoraphobia
3. Never Stops
4. Little Kids
5. Microcastle
6. Calvary Scars
7. Green Jacket
8. Activa
9. Nothing Ever Happened
10. Saved By Old Times
11. Neither Of US, Uncertainly
12. Twilight at Carbon Lake

Deerhunter have also confirmed they will be supporting Nine Inch Nails on their US arena tour. More Euro-centric dates to be announced soon.

Liars / Photographs: Ama Chana

Prior to the show, I’d hardly heard anything by either act before- just a shed load of hype and hyperbole. Gig-wise comrades had declared this was not a show to be missed, a double-whammy of impeccable awesome that would totally blow me away.

Well, they were half-right.

The considered, melodic fuzz of Bradford Cox’s Atlanta, Georgia outfit Deerhunter wasn’t well served by the Koko’s dire acoustics, but despite the lack of volume and static, nervy stage demeanour it was clear that these guys are pretty special- they’ve captured that same kind of mesmerising, hazy groove that the Animal Collective crew excel at. A generous hour long support slot allowed them time to slowly build up their multi-layered walls of noise, and although it sagged occasionally, the overall effect was decidedly lovely as it swelled gloriously. Continue Reading

Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel is the debut solo outing for Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox as Atlas Sound. Retreating from the drone punk of his band, Cox returned to his bedroom in Atlanta, Georgia, armed with a few instruments, a laptop, some newly honed recording tricks and some helpful words from fellow Kranky recording artist Brian Foote. The result of this retreat form what could be seen as a melancholy companion piece to Panda Bear’s Person Pitch, with the influence of the Beach Boys replaced with the likes of My Bloody Valentine, The Cocteau Twins and much of the 80’s output of the 4AD label.

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