Angel Is Broken

Bradford Cox is an interesting fellow. When he is not busy with Deerhunter, he sings atop his solo project, Atlas Sound. Parallax is the third official release and in case you were wondering, refers to the visual phenomenon that affects the perception of objects’ relative positions depending on the viewer’s distance from them, a term typically used when speaking about stars. Yet, it seems like an appropriate title; Cox references distance, motion, and emotion on this set of songs, oscillating between the sparkling pop he does so well with this project as well as Deerhunter and the hazy experiments that are all Atlas Sound. He seamlessly moves between blurry edges and glorious pop. I was already getting the inkling that he is the next Sparklehorse (Mark Linkous) and on this record, I hear it even more, but sans precious xylophones and 4-track hiss. But that tenderness, that vulnerability and vocal experimentation between light and affected, sneers and melody that Linkous characterized can be heard through Cox. I don't know what his official position on Sparklehorse is and for my purposes it doesn't matter--the similar vein alone is enough to fulfill my interests and to see Bradford Cox as someone special amidst the many trending musicians now.

Parallax feels like a more complete work than any other Atlas Sound record, with the differences between the songs less distinct and everything flowing together more naturally. There are no such loose strands here, and the closing "Lightworks" ends the album wonderfully with a tremoloed guitar shuddering against Cox's hankering vocals. There's no kraut-rock-y jam this time, like the one from the last album, with Laetitia Sadier, which kind of disappointed me, but, to have another song like that just for the sake of it wouldn't be a good move either. That lightness of touch is on display throughout this album, bringing the listener closer to Cox's brittle self-examination. I don't know what it is about Cox that seems so small, alone, and cut adrift from the world, but the way these songs breathe suggests he's more comfortable in his own skin, allowing him to draw his audience closer than ever. It's that artist-created inner world that gives the work a sense of authenticity and honesty. You just can't fake that tenderness.

Picking a stand apart track doesn't seem right, but hey, take a stab at "Angel Is Broken".


Buy your copy of Atlas Sound Parallax here.