Sunlight Streams In

The Floodlight Collective
Lotus Plaza
Kranky, 2009
4 stars

Do Deerhunter bandmates Bradford Cox and Lockett Pundt, share the same brain or something? Pundt's solo debut as Lotus Plaza shimmers with the same spacey, afternoon haze that Cox's own great Atlas Sound solo work has showed off. It's hard to say whether Pundt is responsible for, or inspired by, the melancholy atmospherics that Deerhunter littered their albums with, but either way The Floodlight Collective is brimming with them. There isn't a jarring or aggressive moment to be found - overall it's a softly-softly, pretty indie pop album. Opener Red Oak Way sets the pace perfectly, its guitars sanded of any sharp edges, and its steady drumbeat happy to sit in the background behind layers of electronics and washy vocals. From there on in Quicksand hints at a hillbilly vibe, These Years takes a minimalist, almost Sigur Ros-ish instrumental approach, and Sunday Night touches on glitchy electro before dropping back into bass-driven atmo-pop (can I coin a new musical term?). And album closer A Threaded Needle - wow. It's all good. Fans will already be all over this record, but those that haven't yet come across Deerhunter or any of their offshoots could do worse than start their education with this record.

Artwork: B
Old photos rock.