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Deerhunter, "Cryptograms"
With a nearly equal ratio of songs and atmospherics, this second album from Atlanta’s Deerhunter falls just shy of greatness. The group meanders a bit, searching for what to say at a crossroads somewhere between mood and melody. When they do find their footing, however, there’s a lot to be excited about.
The first half especially is a momentum killer. I was able to set aside my reservations about the overlong “Intro” because the title track that arrives on its heels hits with startling impact, perhaps all the more so because of the anticipation preceding it. Yet immediately following this track is another ambient piece, dampening all of the newly discovered energy. “White Ink” is a pleasantly drifting cloud of feedback, but after the lively “Cryptograms,” it’s a bit of a step backwards. This pattern dogs the much of the album by alternating catchy tunes with abstract material that stifles any mounting enthusiasm. The atmospherics aren’t awful by any means, but their length and aimlessness slow the pace of the album unnecessarily. It’s almost a form of procrastination in a way, as if the group’s using the static pieces as interludes in which to refocus their songwriting.
The ideas start flowing more freely with “Spring Hall Convert,” spearheading a welcome succession of more structured material. They masterfully use effects on these songs to give them tremendous depth, their melodies like beacons at the heart of a dense patch of fog. “Strange Lights” beckon from within the murk, luring the listener on to the hypnotic “Hazel St.” Momentarily, they return to more ambience with “Tape Hiss Orchid.” It’s barely over a minute long, yet it’s the ideal length for this piece because its point is well made and, if anything, makes me want to hear more. This philosophy would have served them well earlier in the album, before the onset of ambivalence. Closing is “Heatherwood,” probably the album’s most down to earth track because of the secondary role of the effects.
Despite some complaints, there’s still much more to like here than not. The band has a lot of captivating songs to their credit, I just wish they weren’t so intent on hiding them between so many nebulous obfuscations. Deerhunter is on the verge of making a big statement, but I don’t think they’ve quite articulated it yet with this album.
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