There most recent album, 'Deerhoof vs Evil' is truly excellent. It's their tenth album, I believe. The main heart of the band is the tension between their rhythmic dense art-rock and Satomi Matsuzaki little girl lost voice, with strains of her Japanese accent seaping through. The two singles ('Super Duper Rescue Heads' & 'The Merry Barracks' ... though I have 'Behold a Marvel in the Darkness' on 7", but I don't seem to be able to find a video for that) are incredible, though it could be fair to say they represent the reasons why this band will never be mainstream ... both concentrating on rhythm and repeated vocals rather than a traditional verse/chorus dynamic as such.
The other two albums I have, 'Milk Man' & 'Friend Opportunity', both have some incredible songs too.
Only been into them for a month or so. Saw them playing 'Milk Man' in its entirity at Alexandra Palace around the start of July, as part of the ATP Don't Look Back series of gigs. It was a great set. They were supporting the Flaming Lips. I'll have to blog about their performance of the 'Soft Bulletin' at some point.
Had a look to see if they had any gigs coming up, ... and found they were playing as part of Congotronics vs Rockers, an amzaing mash-up of tradi-mod African electronica (including Konono No 1 & Kasai Allstars) with indie (represented by Deerhoof, Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Matt Mehlan and Juana Molina), at the Barbican on 12 July 2011. The show arose from an album, 'Tradi-Mods vs Rockers', released at the end of last year on which a load of indie bands (including Deerhoof & the Animal Collective) covered songs by Konono No 1 & Kasai Allstars. The band, consisting of nineteen musicians in total, toured Europe & Asia between the end of June and the start of August ... with just the one gig in the UK. Check out their blog, if any of this sounds interesting ... as well as this interview from The Quietus.
The gig was truly outstanding. People were actually dancing in the aisles, at the Barbican! It was the definition of a party atmosphere. Something special for sure. This is the cover of 'Super Duper Rescue Heads':
If you can imagine, it was actually better when we saw them a couple of weeks later. Of course, the actual gig comprised much more heavily of Konono No 1/Kasai Allstars covers ... using their home-made instruments to blend traditional rhythms into something new. Had decided to persuade a colleague to come with me, pretty much on a whim. It was one of those things were realised we were both so lucky to have caught it.
Anyway, here is a couple of reviews I found:
- Guardian;
- Observer; and
- Financial Times.
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