Album Review: Deerhunter - 'Monomania'

Monomania is a term for partial insanity, in Deerhunter's case, it refers to the band members obsessive behaviours, the first meaning however, is far more fitting for the group's sixth record. Nocturnal garage rock is never going to be a straight down the line affair, but Deerhunter have a way of making it all make sense, within their own world anyway.

There are definitely some older influences in the sound this time around, psychedelic rockers like The Doors have played a part in opening track 'Neon Junkyard', a relaxed number that plods along driven by swaying guitars and distorted vocals. The insanity begins to kick in with the mocking guitar riffs of 'Leather Jacket II', their harsh tones pierce the staggered vocals while the rhythm section repeats a thick, heavy riff and all sorts of noisy chaos blankets the entire song.

It would be easier for the band to just lose themselves in moments like this for the entire record, but that wouldn't make them very good, the harsh messes need to be offset by some beauty and that is what album stand-out 'The Missing' is for, a gentle track full of clean melodies and simple loops.

The band cite influences like The Ramones and Bo Diddly on this record, and while they are clearly going for an older sound, the punk elements are the most prominent, regardless of how tame they may be in songs like the gritty 'Blue Agent.' 

The end sections of the album fall back into gentle indie rock with structures and sounds that are far more widely acceptable, this is in some ways a disappointment, albeit possibly necessary so things don't fly off the rails. The gritty distortions and mess of sound come back for the records hazy title track before things close on a strong note with the lo-fi but groove heavy 'Punk (La Vie Anterieure)', a song that stays fairly contained, driven by a rolling bass and drum line and relaxed vocals.

Deerhunter are toggling the line between a mess of chaos and some sweet little tunes, partial insanity, which is certainly a strong addition to their catalogue, but nothing too amazing.

1. Neon Junkyard

2. Leather Jacket II

3. The Missing

4. Pensa Cola

5. Dream Captain

6. Blue Agent

7. T.H.M

8. Sleepwalking

9. Back To The Middle

10. Monomania

11. Nitebike

12. Punk (La Vie Anterieure)