Although Ian Deaton takes inspiration from classic ‘80s synth-pop, the thrill never lies in familiarity or nostalgia. Instead, there is a visceral intensity to his music that forces you to focus on what’s in front of you. In the case of “An Immoral Brain,” the lead single from his new cassette Moon Howler, that potent immediacy arrives in the form of swirling synths and a relentless beat that hammers away with punk-like ferocity. It’s a barnstorming cut that practically begs you to attack the dance floor. But beneath the song’s whirlwind drive and serial killer narrative, lies an opportunity for personal catharsis.
“On the surface, ‘An Immoral Brain’ deals lyrically in the world of crime fiction,” Deaton says. “[It’s] a Donald Fagen-inspired lyrical short story of a cold-blooded killer experiencing a moral inversion. On a personal level, the song is about intrusive thoughts, OCD, trauma from past violence, and healing through love and art.”
Directed by Deaton and produced and photographed by engineer Thomas Barnwell and Atlanta cinematographer Max McDonough, the accompanying video is shrouded in shadowy intimacy. Shot in black and white, the clip focuses its attention on Deaton in one of two scenarios: dancing and singing as a gauzy silhouette or staring inertly through the curtains of a window. That duality ties directly into the song’s themes, while also allowing Deaton to explore a particular visual aesthetic, one that he says “uses frame compositions commonly seen in giallo cinema, film noir, and early ‘90s music videos.”
Filled with gritty beauty and a looming sense of dread, the final vision is dark and captivating, and yet another reason why Ian Deaton needs to be on your musical radar.
Watch/listen above.
Moon Howler is available now via Deanwell Global Music.
More Info
Bandcamp: iandeaton1.bandcamp.com
Instagram: @deatonian
SoundCloud: @ian-deaton