Sometimes a musician has so much to say they simply can’t be contained by just one project.  Case in point is Atlanta’s Bradford Cox.  He may be best known as the front man of Deerhunter, but he’s been toiling away as Atlas Sound since the wee age of 10.  His prolific nature has been fostered by his success, leading to seven LPs and a number of smaller releases over the past five of six years both with Deerhunter and on his own. While the comparisons to his full time band will undoubtedly be all over the blogosphere Parallax  serves as his most individual statement yet.

Cox’s work under this name has allowed for exploration of more experimental territory, often it’s less structured than the music of Deerhunter, and it always gives him a great avenue to showcase his stream-of-consciousness lyrics.  While 2008’s Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feeland 2009’s Logos were obscured by a spectral haze Parallax  is much more to the point.  Cox’s desire to explore the unhinged seems to have been drawn back, and instead he’s built a total of 14 tight, well-executed songs, what he has termed ‘sci-fi fever dreams’.  Perhaps for the first time he’s making pop music, this is especially true of tracks like "The Shakes", "Amplifiers" and "My Angel Is Broken", the psychedelics have been dialed back in order to make a more concise statement.

The most successful moments of Parallax come when Cox is able to use this pop-centric sensibility to serve his more experimental aims.  "Te Amo" is a simple combination of percussion and strings, but when combined they form an entrancing beat that allows Cox’s voice to soar, and likewise the title track uses a bunch of chirping electronics to lift him into outer space.

Stumbling blocks do exist on this LP however, as there are a few places where Cox’s mind gets the better of him.  "Modern Aquatic Night Songs" and "Flagstaff" both seem to drift on aimlessly and have trouble fitting in
with his stronger, tighter arrangements.

Still, as has been the case with Atlas Sound and Deerhunter alike, it seems as though the level of quality has gone up with each successive release and Cox’s ability to conjure up solid lyrics on the spot is pretty astounding. Parallax  may end up being Atlas Sounds’ most accessible record, but that’s not a bad thing at all.  He had already proven that he could be the psych punk fueled weirdo, but now he’s proving he can be a pop star too.

Grade: B+

Atlas Sound - Te Amo by psyborgg