- Released: 2020
- Origin: San Francisco
- Label: Joyful Noise
- Best Track: New Orphan Asylum for Spirited Deerchildren
I’ve never been too sure how much I like noise rock veterans Deerhoof. I admire their experimentation and refusal to play by the rules. I’m not certain I find their stuff easy to sit down and listen to though.
Brand new 15th studio album Future Teenage Cave Artists hasn’t really made me change my mind on that, despite some very decent moments. ‘New Orphan Asylum for Spirited Deerchildren’ is an excellent track, beginning with the strange inquiry “why did you shoot my puppies?” and not really normalising to any extent as it continues into an unsettlingly discordant dirge.
I’m fond of the leaping dissonance of ‘O Ye Saddle Babes’ too, sounding like lounge-pop with a spanner in its works, and the funereal ‘Fraction Anthem’ works a treat with its haunting synth hooks.
Having listened to it a few times now though, I feel it has a bit of a disjointed feel, to the point where parts of it feel a bit like experimentation for the hell of it. Maybe it’s just a little lost on me, but I won’t rule out giving it more time.
