Considering the dark, claustrophobic energy that permeated large swaths of Deerhunter’s 2014 effort, Monomania, it was interesting (relieving, actually) to hear the band’s upcoming LP would be more balanced affair, one more “focused on melody and texture.” I’ve always thought the band works best when they temper their tendencies toward experimentation and psychedelic noise with more accessible pop overtones, and while I enjoyed Monomania’s aggressive garage lurch, I wouldn’t place it among the band’s most lasting work.
Fading Frontier, however, may prove to be an altogether different story. As the album’s first single, “Snakeskin,” and now the newly unveiled “Breaker” are proving, a more poppy and accessible Deerhunter does not necessarily mean a less interesting one. Cox and guitarist Lockett Pundt duet on the group’s latest single, marking the first time the two have shared lead vocals on a Deerhunter track, and, oh man, does it ever work. Bolstered by the duo’s infectious melodies and effortless harmonizing, the song is a bittersweet and dreamy meditation on the nature of time and our ephemeral existence that is cut from a distinctly early ‘90s alt cloth, especially one woven by R.E.M. Although the lyrics are relatively straightforward— “Breaking the waves / I can’t ignore (I tried) / The ocean is strong / I cannot stem the tide” goes the chorus—they seem suggestive of bigger, more complex themes, helping to add some depth and weight to the song’s otherwise billowing atmosphere.
The video, shot by Cox and Lundt and edited by Cox, is nothing elaborate or remarkable, but the fading transitions and warm color palette blend smartly with the music and assist in accentuating the track’s pulsing groove and soaring chorus. It’s a bright and almost whimsical production that seeks to immerse you in the idyllic waters of their outsized and slightly hazy beachside pop. Dip your toes if you want, but this one is better if you just jump right in.
Watch/listen above.
Fading Frontier is out Oct. 16 via 4AD. Pre-orders are available here.
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