Atlas Sound - Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel

Bradford Cox's main band, Deerhunter, describe themselves as 'ambient punk'. That is perhaps a term intended to deliberately mislead, allowing the band to be pigeon-holed - after a fashion - by the lazy but not actually restrict what they can play. But with his solo album, Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel, that is a term which perfectly encapsulates what it sounds like. It's brash and discordant, but time stretched and cushioned by a gentle psychedelia, like The Birthday Party beat matched and drowned out by OOIOO. Whereas Deerhunter might actually be able to play clubs, Atlas Sound is purely lullabies for toad lickers, a dreamy carpet ride drifting past pop techno hypnosis on a bed of incense smoke. Admittedly, this might put it closer to ambient than to punk, but the brash inconsideration for musical norms and DIY snarl amply satisfy the punk ethos. [Ali Maloney]