I was most intrigued by Bradford Cox when I starting hearing his solo songs – his blog really demonstrates how prolific he is and before he officially released anything under the name “Atlas Sound” he was constantly posting free, downloadable solo demos (he has a nice back story about that name and how he picked it as a budding youth). His love of washy, breezy girl group changes and folky abstractions, along with the sheer AMOUNT of songs made want to know more and I asked to interview him. We met at the Empty Bottle and he was a little distracted at first, it seemed like it might be a difficult conversation. It turned out to be one of the best interviews of TPR’s history. We wound up talking about his music, being a homo with congenital medical issues, and sometimes he would trail off in thought. He was KING in Deerhunter land and it was clear he’d made a lot of big decisions about what he wanted to get out of life. In the middle of the interview, a fan that also had a heart condition (they had met at a previous show and bonded) came in and gave him a scarf she knitted. He immediately put it on and was SO HAPPY. We talked for about 30-40 minutes, his friends started filtering in and soon enough it was a post-show party. Cox was surrounded by people he knew and loved and I always think of that scarf when I listen to his music.
The new Atlas Sound record, “Logos,” sounds like autumn. A slow entry, pretty colors, highs that don’t get too high, and an aggressive exit. At the center is his pretty voice–thin layers like filo dough sometimes expressing a longing I haven’t felt since Julee Cruise’s soundtracks for Twin Peaks. Thankfully, he does this all the time.
Stream and download from “Logos” — Atlas Sound – Criminals and get his latest free song, a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Walk a Thin Line” here.
