southern records

Song of the Week: Deerhunter - Cryptograms - "Spring Hall Convert" >> mp3

Kranky are starting the new year in style with this track taken from the Deerhunter album Cryptograms - It beautifully showcases the young Atlanta band's hypnotic garage pop stylings.

"Spring Hall Convert" has a very distinct 60s feel in the soft echoey vocals, the wiry guitar sounds and even more so in the drum beat which punctuates the song from start to finish. This song represents contemporary psyche pop at its strongest, very impressive to say the least and this is why we are crowning it as Song of The Week.

The song opens with Bradford's gentle vocals breathing the words "So I woke up" before the guitar and drums enter in gradually. Two minutes into the song, the instruments and vocals are working together harmoniously forming a beautiful and dreamy song vaguely reminiscent of My Bloody Valentine and bands of that ilk. Cooing vocal harmonies add further texture to the song about two minutes in and although they are slightly set back beneath the drums and guitars, they have a specific emotional impact on hearing them as they lull you into a reflective trance and also have an uplifting quality to them.

This whole album is very varied blending noise, ambience, punk and psyche pop. "Spring Hall Convert" introduces the second half of the album which falls under the latter category.

The band formed in 2001 with the intention of marrying the lulling tones of ambience with the drive and propulsion of garage rock, the band have been through a lot in their tender years, really picking up fans and accolades on their huge European tour last Autumn with the *Liars*..Be sure to catch their frenzied live show (described by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs as a "Religious experience") when they return to blitzthe continent once again early in 2007.

Buy Deerhunter from the Southern shop now.