Admittedly, Deerhunter's newest EP release, Rainwater Cassette Exchange, is not heading in any uncharted musical directions. Front man Bradford Cox isn’t showing any sign of mixing up his Vetiver cum Jesus and Mary Chain formula, either. Yet there’s something perfectly acceptable about this, as Deerhunter consistently pulls through with formidable and nuanced releases.
Deerhunter seems to have achieved an inner harmony, and Rainwater manages to be simultaneously unfussy and lush, frank and cryptic, grounded and poignant. The band has firm control of their sound – Cox’s balmy vocals command surf rock guitars and cassette static – yet the five tracks are not so easily defined, favoring a coy, psychedelic charisma over a more conventional sound. Each track moves smoothly and opaquely into the next, occasionally flirting with harsher instrumentation, but always keeping a practiced grasp on melody and unusual chord progression. Cox is easily the most intriguing force behind the band’s sitar-smooth ambiance. He embodies both a melancholy vulnerability and sultry confidence, and even during the best instrumental stretches, it doesn’t feel wrong to want him back in the mix.
The opening title track has an immediate noise-pop appeal, but vaguely Eastern instrumentation make “Disappearing Ink” and “Game of Diamonds” the two highlights of the EP. “Disappearing Ink” is the best example of Cox’s charm. “Game of Diamonds” is patiently seductive, leading into the double harmonies and misplaced sound bytes of “Circulation.” “Famous Last Words” is the least energetic track of the lot, but it doesn’t disrupt the flow too harshly, as “Game of Diamonds” easily recovers the EP’s composure.
Again, Rainwater doesn't represent much of a shift from Deerhunter’s previous releases. It showcases the same languorous garage static as 2008's Microcastle and Weird Era Cont., and songs like “Circulation” and “Disappearing Ink” don’t sway far from the hazy experimentation established on 2007’s Cryptograms. Deerhunter fans won’t be disappointed, and new listeners probably won’t find a lot to complain about. Chances are you’ll want to keep listening long after “Circulation” comes to a close.
Track List:
1.Rainwater Cassette Exchange (2:25)
2.Disappearing Ink (2:22)
3.Famous Last Words (2:15)
4.Game of Diamonds (3:15)
5.Circulation (5:05)
