Album Review: "Deerhoof Vs. Evil" Confuses And Delights
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With the full album finally hitting stores, the quartet’s work will surprise even loyal fans, as they continue to further their progressive, complex and altogether unusual sound.
Formed in 1994, the group gained a reputation in the San Francisco underground music circle as one of the strangest.
Their style is hard to comprehend, mixing indie music’s sweet, lyrical tone with metal rock's grungy feel.
With their intricate and almost competing melodies, along with syncopated rhythms and eclectic vocals by Japanese native Satomi Matsuzaki, the band have earned praise from artists such as David Bowie. Deerhoof stepped into a bigger spotlight in 2006 when they toured with artists including the Flaming Lips and the Fiery Furnaces.
Because their music sounds almost improvisational and dissonant, the band have formed a select group of followers. In this album, Deerhoof recognize their unconventional sound, continue to push the envelope and challenge the taste of their fans to a point of confusion.
"Deerhoof vs. Evil" kicks off with the surprising “Qui Dorm”, an array of tribal rhythms and harmonies accompanied by flute and a blend of electronic sound toward the middle. The blending here, as well as throughout the rest of the album, creates a dichotomy of sounds Deerhoof are known to produce in their music.
“Let’s Dance the Jet” may be the most confusing song in the entire album, as it encompasses an overwhelming amount of percussions by drummer Greg Saunier, as well as the dissonant vocals of Matsuzaki. The song works against itself, pulling the listener in with the raw instrumentals, and yet pushing them away with the haunting vocals.
Satomi’s vocals shine again in “Super Duper Rescue Heads!” even amidst the heavy synth and intricate mess of melodies playing all at once.
Deerhoof add yet another twist to the album with the grimey, grungy sound of “The Merry Barracks”, relying on conflicting melodies and electric guitar.
The acoustic-driven “I Did Crimes for You” is an example of the band’s amazing ability to create a fluid sound between all their competing sounds. Satomi’s singing rings powerfully through the percussion as she repeats “this is a stick up”. The song blends together for a more flowing musical feel, despite some instrumental chaos within.
Despite its alien sounds and progressive rhythms, "Deerhoof vs. Evil" plays to the strange, haunting sound Deerhoof fans understand. This album is quite unique and maintains the very unpredictability the band gained a reputation for.
