photo: Jason Nocito

My affinity for the peculiar looking Bradford Cox (Deerhunter/Atlas Sound) stretches out to the far reaches of my heart, and the depths of my knees. He is just so strange, and gloriously talented. There is a cosmic center of creativity with virtually no room to exist inside his bones and limbs of nothing more than skin and inches. Giraffe-like with strides as clumsy as a deer, Cox has become an anomaly, rightful royalty as a fixture in the indie experimental pop genre.

His blog offers free downloads of his latest creations. The most recent are two new solo acoustic tracks, very stripped down, hazy songs that take it down several notches allowing you to let the bare sounds blanket you effortlessly. I often spend my time, while listening to Logos, imagining Cox in his room surrounded by a barracade of action figures and childhood fingerpaint writing songs that are almost always reported swiftly the next day by Spin and personal blogs all across this great universe.

Atlas Sound- Doctor (Five Discs Cover)

Atlas Sound- The Screens

Here’s another gem I found of a budding Bradford Cox of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound. Am I going too far with this? Anyway, I think he is adorable for too many reasons to name. Should you venture into his impressive photo album, you’ll find all the makings of a gawky teen, baring legs in shameless poses decked in costume or hanging from the ceiling. It is brilliant. He exudes the kind of confidence that transcends what his legs and arms would normally allow someone of his height and posture. He owns and uses his limbs, all of them. Uncool is a word still foreign to his ears. I am mildly in love with him. 

Aside from that, with his solo project- Atlas Sound, he’s about to release his second full-length entitled ‘Logos’. This beautiful composition was recorded, ‘as a first take’ played live while the tape rolled. There’s a distinct sound of ‘no big deal’ about it, like, psh- doesn’t everyone record that way? No, Bradford, you have a mutant talent that allows for seamlessness to fall over what ever you may do. 

He says that this album is more of a collaborative effort, instead of leaning towards his heavy introspection. I guess one can only stay inside the head for so long before no new ideas emerge, and exploration into the world outside would be required to massage those little brain cells back to life. Evident in ‘Walkabout’ ft. Noah Lennox (Panda Bear, Animal Collective), when he asks, “what did you want to be when you grew up?” Listen Bradford, that answer will get you nowhere fast. Everyone wants to be something magical. Then they realize there’s a real magic-deficit right about the time they’re about to ‘grow up’ so they wade in the magic for a few years longer. That has found us with an epidemic of children and beatnicks ruling the world. I suppose if that weren’t the case, we’d have a lot less music out there- it’s a trade for the dreamers. Logos is out Oct. 4th.

Check out Bradford’s blog for a ton of free music, mixes and more strange photos. 

Atlas Sound ft. Noah Lennox- Walkabout

Atlas Sound- Attic Lights

Atlas Sound (Fleetwood Mac cover)- Walk a Thin Line