Weekly Release Spotlight: Atlas Sound
Posted on 11/26/2011
Atlas Sound
Parallax
4AD
Parallax
4AD
In the last two years Bradford Cox has been a part of seven releases (2009’s Logos, Bedroom Databank Vol.1-4, and Deerhunter’s 2010 critically acclaimed release: Halcyon Digest). Atlas Sound is a product of what Cox explains as, “ideas that I can't make work with a five piece rock band.” Cox’s 3rd official release under solo guise Atlas Sound finds the Deerhunter front man crooning introspectively about self-doubt, the Mona Lisa, and feelings of melancholy.
Parallax begins with “The Shakes”, a dazzling pop song with jangling guitars in which Cox sings that he “found money and fame, but found them really lame.” The song leads into “Amplifiers”, a hazy number that backs away from the more straightforward pop of the lead track and sounds a bit more like some of the more muddled tracks from 2009’s Logos. The sixth song, Mona Lisa, featuring Andrew VanWyngarden of MGMT on keyboard and backing vocals, again shows Cox’s expertise at writing pop songs with undeniably catchy hooks. The entirety of Parallax is enhanced with Bradford’s smooth, liquefied voice that waterfalls one into a dreamy, hypnotic state of syncopated computer based instruments and guitar strumming that are similar to bands, Toro Y Moi and A Sunny Day in Glasgow.
Brad’s echoing voice wavers in and out a fluid, space-liked sound that somewhat resembles stereotypical sounds of computers circa 1984. Cox jumps back and forth seamlessly from the afore mentioned ambient, reverb soaked, atmospheric tracks to tight, well-crafted pop songs that are sure to become favorites.
Stream: Atlas Sound - "Te Amo"