Dan Deacon
Bromst
Carpark Records
By Ben Grad
It's hard
to see Dan Deacon's newest album, Bromst, as anything more than a
collection of excellent (but similar) songs. By track four of Bromst,
“Snookered,” Dan Deacon has established the pattern he'll use throughout the
album: about a minute of minimalist noise buildup (in “Snookered,” a jumble of
murmuring voices over electronic hum, held together by slowly repeating
xylophone patterns), culminating in a euphoric chorus which keeps building in
strength over the track's final few minutes. It's an effective formula, one
which remains constant throughout Bromst.
But,
contrary to conventional albums which are rendered toothless by repetitive song
patterns or moods, this formula gains strength each time Dan Deacon repeats it.
As in Dan Deacon's live show, the effectiveness of these songs (and Bromst
as a whole) is built on Dan Deacon's ability to reveal the simple aural
triggers which suddenly turn a normal crowd into a single euphoric organism.
Dan Deacon spends his live performances whispering commands to the crowd,
forming hundreds of listeners into snaking lines, geometric shapes, and
multi-armed creatures. This is music which invites its listeners to lose
themselves in the emotional tangle of a song, while simultaneously asking its
listeners, “Why are we so attracted to loss of control? Why does it feel so
good to be part of the crowd?”
While Spiderman
of the Rings, Dan Deacon's previous album, marked a revolution in his sound
(his first use of vocals, greater instrument range), Bromst signifies
less of an advance for the experimental electronic soloist. Like many members
of the Baltimore based Wham Collective, Dan Deacon has been emphasizing vocal
work more heavily lately, creating his most complex vocal collages yet in “Wet
Wings,” “Woof Woof” and “Baltihorse.” But, unless you're listening to Bromst
and Spiderman of the Rings side-by-side, the progression in vocals
and complexity between the two albums isn't hugely significant. There is, however, enough of a difference
between Dan Deacon's two full lengths to leave his fans eagerly awaiting his
third album.
Dan Deacon plays The Masquerade tonight (Friday, April 10). You can buy tickets here until 4 p.m. today.
