Posted on 06/19/2009
Music is much like fashion, in that it tends to ebb and flow with constant revisiting of colors, sounds and styles of prior decades. The contemporary indie folk movement, spiced with a tinge of ambient rock and chamber music, has created a sort of spooky mountain music. Think Radiohead performing at Woodstock. A part of the same flannel that Grizzly Bear, Bon Iver, and Fleet Foxes were cut from, Atlanta’s own, Deerhunter, has released the Rainwater Cassette Exchange EP, to add to the ambient fold.

The EP is only five songs, and to be honest, though I like it, it’s not the most exciting five songs I’ve heard. Because of all the distortion and reverb, it’s almost impossible to make out any of the lyrics, and the droning echoes and moans could quite possibly lull the most energetic listener into coma. Not to mention most of the songs are anti-climactic, as if they are just ideas for more complete works. But like I said, strangely, I do like it, because what they do, they do well. The instrumentation and vocal harmonies are beautiful. Especially on the last two songs, “Game Of Diamonds” and the faster, “Circulation.” And the usage of background sound is really cool too. It doesn’t seem trite or overly distracting from the music.

I’m interested to see what Deerhunter does with the full LP. The Rainwater Cassette Exchange EP is a decent start, but I hope they take a sharp left somewhere. If not, we’ll all be headed down the slow road to Sleepyland like children forced to go to Catholic mass. Early service.

- Jason Reynolds