The prolific Bradford Cox of Deerhunter/Atlas Sound fame is releasing his second official full-length album, Logos, as Atlas Sound in October. While IRC has yet to review the full album, Stereogum contends that Logos "flows together so gorgeously as a 44-minute patchwork of sounds," and Cox himself says the album, unlike it's predecessor, Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel, "was recorded all over the world. It's not about me. There are collaborations with other musicians. The lyrics are not autobiographical. The view is a lot more panoramic and less close-up. I became bored with introspection."

Cox teamed up with Noah Lennox, aka Panda Bear, and member of Animal Collective, to record a track on the new album. The song, "Walkabout," is a cheery electronic pop tune featuring Panda Bear's recognizable Beach Boys sounding, echoed vocal harmonies, and Cox's energetic synth mixing.

"Walkabout" is so summer like, complete with sound samples of what sounds like children playing, that it makes total sense to release it now while summer still has a little fizzle left. Another song featured here, "Solo of the Square" is one of Cox's 2009 self-releases as Atlas Sound. Logos drops on October 20 via Kranky Records. Enjoy.

"Walkabout" (with Panda Bear) - Atlas Sound from Logos (2009)

"Solo Or The Square" - Atlas Sound from free 'Virtual 7", No. 6' (2009)

Known for releasing volumes of his music for free via his blog, Cox also has a neat new cover song of Fleetwood Mac's "Walk The Thin Line", available as a free download. In addition, there are loads of other free downloads from Atlas Sound sprinkled throughout the blog.

Cox also publishes awesome, eclectic mirco-mixes for download. The songs featured on each micro-mix are listed on his blog and downloadable as large MP3 files. Essential listening for Bradford Cox fans.

Labels: Atlas Sound, Bradford Cox, Indie Artist/Group Profiles, Panda Bear

Atlanta's very own indie music magic makers Deerhunter have become one of the most talked about quirky indie psychedelic rock bands of recent years. And for good reason.

But the band's latest 2008 double release Microcastle/Weird Era Cont. solidifies Deerhunter as one of the best non-mainstream bands of the so-called 'indie scene' despite frequent band changes and a string of misfortunes.

Just about every indie music blog, and even mainstream press, are hailing the band's latest work, but more importantly, the amazing journey listeners are taken on through songs, sounds and stories all along the way.

The two albums offer listeners a compendium of dreamy, warm songs full of sprawling concepts, singing and choruses, plus instrument experimentation mixed with psychedelic and garage style rock songs.

Sure, it has detractors that kicked it for being too 'straightforward' and 'generic indie', but as a complete work, that criticism is overly simplified. There's something for everyone on this album.

Microcastle highlights include "Never Stops", "Nothing Ever Happened" and "Little Kids" among others. One thing that is a bit annoying about so many of Deerhunter's songs is the time it takes for the song to reach and groove on the inevitable song climax.

Numerous Deerhunter songs start off slow and pick-up pace near the end. And then once you're into the meat of the song, it's over. A good example of this Deerhunter template is the album title song "Microcastle" (listed below). Is everyone competing with Sigur Ros (who we love!) for the longest dream-like intros to songs that end triumphantly?

"Nothing Ever Happened" - Deerhunter from Microcastle
"Games of Diamonds" - Deerhunter from Microcastle
"Microcastle" - Deerhunter from Microcastle

Stream Deerhunter on MySpace
Stream Weird Era Cont. on Lala

Check out Deerhunter (and other projects of Bradford Cox like Atlas Sound) on the official blog
and download rare, demo and other tracks and mixes

Check out this exclusive live recording from the tribute to John Peel, the famous BBC DJ who brought post punk and other genres to the masses for more than a decade.

Stream Deerhunter live in concert at Ellyot Island in England. (Deerhunter fans will love this)

Also, see our reviews of a Bradford Cox playlist and IRC's playlist challenge.

Labels: Best Indie Albums 2008, Bradford Cox, Deerhunter, Microcastle

Hard-core Deerhunter fans know about the band and it's many other projects, incarnations and collaborations.

Fewer know what kind of music the current and former band mates of this indie collective listen to. So, in summarizing a huge number of posts at their blog, here is series of personal playlist mixes from Deerhunter, Atlas Sound and Panda Bear.

First up, is Bradford Cox's playlist "mixed by Atlas Sound" titled Micromix 16: Bus Ambience, posted on May 25, 2008. Overall, most of the playlist is simply not really our kind of music (compared to all the great music out there); but hey, who's to say others won't enjoy it more.

Personally, I skipped over most of the songs, hoping for a jem within and found just about nada.

1. Animal Collective - Chocolate Girl (Live on BBC) - Predictable, but good.
2. The Dovers - What Am I Going to Do - OK, they have better stuff.
3. The Chills - Pink Frost - Good, like The Chills for some time.
4. The Avatars - Coil - SOK.
5. Jet Harris and Tony Meehan - Some People (around 19 minutes in) - Not.
6. B-52's - Theme From A Nude Beach - Umm, no thanks.
7. Birigwa - Okusosola Mukule - Nice world music until the baby starts crying at the end (around 31 minutes in); seriously, in a 'mellowed out' song, the last thing you want to hear is a crying baby. Hello?!
8. Black Sabbath - Solitude - Good. Classic and rarely mellow Black Sabbath from the 1970s.
9. Growing - Disconfirm - Spaceship keyboards with drum band backgrounds. Crap?
10. Beach Boys - He Gives Speeches - This is the freaking Beach Boys?!? OK, well this is the Beach Boys at their worst. With all the possible songs to pick from The Beach Boys!? Is this mix a joke?
11. White Magic - Day - Not so much. I mean yes if you're on acid. How many of you are on acid right now? This track would be better without the awkward choruses/chanting and some more note progressions.

Alright, not digging Bradford's mix all that much. Sorry man, nothing personal. Your own music is better.

Download it via MediaFire: http://www.mediafire.com/?tfregezuyyf

Total Time: 46:13

Next up, Panda Bear's Bookie Pad mix

Stay tuned for more plus our playlist challenge to the Deerhunter and Friends' Personal Playlists series.

Labels: Atlas Sound, Bradford Cox, Deerhunter, Indie Playlists, Mixes, MP3s, Panda Bear