Deerhunter- Halgyon Digest

Deerhunter’s new album Halcyon Digest conjures a lush series of highly polished soundscapes that evoke both mystery and beauty.

The beguiling opener, “Earthquake,” leads off with a lone synthesized clap-like beat, until the vocals materialize, obscured by reverb and swirling electric guitars. There is an entirely organic feel to this album: The instruments seem to wash over the songs, a saxophone breaks into “Coronado” like a sunburst and the vocals float over it all like morning mist. Deerhunter also layers evocative ambient sound throughout the album. “Helicopter” ends in a cascade of bubbling synths, and “Sailing” offers aquatic background sounds.

This aquatic imagery may relate to the obscure title; “Halcyon” is apparently a generally positive adjective, but also refers to a mythical bird that had sex on a floating nest in the middle of the ocean during the calm days of the winter solstice. (Now that’s what dictionaries are for!) The title either means that or “a tranquil and carefree compendium of songs.”

There are also plenty of upbeat rock songs like “Don’t Cry” and “Desire Lines”, which climaxes more sweetly than a bird in the wintry sea. The lyrics across the board feel honest and natural, with some striking phrases like, “In the bluffs they know my name,” from “Basement Scene.” Many songs are reminiscent quite strongly of the Velvet Underground, in a good way.

More importantly, all these strong tracks whirl together like separate currents into a cohesive whole, creating a musical experience that should be explored rather than simply listened to. Pay special attention to this album. It’ll keep you warm as you bob through icy waves, waiting for that special avian someone.