Spooky Action At a Distance

For those of us who love My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Slowdive, etc., it's tough to listen to the same few records over and over again without getting sick of them. Thankfully, Lotus Plaza has supplied us with some fresh new drony tunes to swoon by. There are some obvious similarities to older artists' work, but there is too much urgency and brightness to these songs to ignore them just for that. I'm paraphrasing, but someone once said that the greatest artists don't borrow, they steal. Obviously there are some moments in this album when you can hear little bits and pieces of familiar songs peek through, but that doesn't detract from the beauty of this album. I love it, and my ears are wide open.

kind of a shoegaze like goodness. love the trance enducing guitars. Got this album b.c i love Deerhunter. If youre the same way get this asap

Though Spooky Action At A Distance was indeed released during the throes of the springtime, the inherent sonic-space that each downward guitar stroke and bouncy, delay-ridden note reveals that this is a record that will endure any and all seasonal constrictions. It will soundtrack all things ephemeral from the snow, the sweat or the rustling leaves because Lockett Pundt (Lotus Plaza) has crafted an absolute triumph of an album that features the searing hooks of his more noted Rock-act (Deerhunter) and the prominance of his more-manic bandmate (Bradford Cox). Opening on a blooming sheet of ambience, "Untitled" recalls the titanic soundscapes of previous album, "Floodlight Collective", and eases the listener into Pundt's shimmering sonics in grand fashion. Uncontent to simply loop majestic, if brief, phrases into oblivion, "Strangers" arpeggiates a blinding guitar hook that follows Pundt through assured scales of hooky vocal work and initiates the album into a gauzy bliss. The just-as-strong "Out of Touch" crescendos into an anthemic chorus that vaguely recalls the equally masterful "Desire Lines" from Deerhunter's opus, "Halcyon Digest" proving that Lockett Pundt may be the most introverted member of the band but remains, nontheless, an absolutely essential componant to the songwriting duties pit within the band itself. There is an ever-contentious non-debate that has plagued Independent Music since the onset of the Aughties. What exactly warrants the sort of fey, limp branding of "Indie Music"? Ramshackle production quality? Thriftstore Virtuosity? This is a particularly relevant question because Indie is a sort of be-all, end-all facade that really is turned into a warning flag for any listener that isn't an all-encompassing music-site frequenter. Lockett Pundt, quiet as he seems, has produced an album so impossibly gorgeous and hook-laden, that Spooky Action serves as a testament to songwriting itself rather than a host of crude genre signifiers. This is not solely "Indie" fodder. "White Galactic One" exemplifies a shoegazing bent with a sizzling fuzz riff but remains a hooky highlight due to Lockett's sublime way with melody. "Monoliths" chorus (of the year) soars into a downright tear-inducing cocaphony because Pundt navigates melodic nuance between each song so consistently that the record has a content circularity that boasts impressive replay-value and lasting testament. We often mistake antics for moral signposts of importance. People -selfishly- appropriate their own stories onto those who would rather gaze or remain silent, and therefore overlook all the good to be had within a person. May this no longer be the case. Spooky Action At A Distance is the perfect marriage between introvert and extrovert. Just supply the memories, please. Lockett Pundt is Lotus Plaza.

Yet another album that brings a 90's born girl back to the 70's Not everyone that tries can pull that off I really think that pop also REALLLY belongs to the 70's-90's era(s) when most of them are like a mix I can truly say that the era NEVER changed in this album for me

This is Loveless with the best hooks you've never heard. Or whatever. This is the best Deerhunter related album so far.

Its amazing how he has progressed as a song writer. He's bending notes as he sings and the vocals are much more prominent than his last album. New confidence and stellar music! This guys music has a air of vintage tube amps swirling through electronic tracers. The tempo varies as does the musical content. Nice acoustic closer and the first couple tracks melt in your ears.

Deerhunter continues to deliver either solo or collectively. Spring has officially arrived.

He's the better half of Deerhunter songwriting. Glad to see he's come out with such a solid solo offering.