Halcyon Days of Youth

There aren’t many bands who can make massive, sweeping changes to their music and still be held in high regard by their fan base, no matter how loyal. Deerhunter, however, have done just that with their fifth studio album Halcyon Digest.

Halcyon Digest is yet another brilliantly crafted composition courtesy of the genius of Bradford Cox. His releases as both Deerhunter and Atlas Sound have reached six in the last four years, with each enveloping his distinctive blend of indie sensibility and shoegaze dirge. Here is an artist who is truly innovative and prolific.

The abrasive origins of 2005’s Turn It Up Faggot are long gone, as are the conventional compositions of 2008’s Microcastle. What remains in 2011 is a sense of whispered nostalgia and the musings of a band that is detached from all that is mainstream and enjoying it.

This is an album that is noticeably quieter than Deerhunter’s earlier releases with an intentional void steeped in reverb layered behind every song. It gives the impression of hopelessness, though not one that bothers the artist.

Halcyon Digest is essentially a record constructed of the thoughts that thrive in the instance before sleep and it is refreshing to hear such innocence arranged in such a strong and wonderfully entertaining manner. The sentiments are not detracted from, but swell in the presence of the void and instrumentation. Deerhunter have once again excelled themselves, while creating an album that is both fun and entirely thought-provoking.