Atlas Sound

Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel

[4/5]

Atlas Sound is Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox’s solo project, and his debut, Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel, veers gently from his meal ticket’s angular, silvery-mauve shoegaze-rock attack. While the overall tone is more blissed-out and Vaseline-lensed than most of Deerhunter’s material, Blind isn’t the least bit sappy. Cox reveals a deft pop craft on “Recent Bedroom,” an incredibly creamy swirl of dream pop that revolves like a merry-go-round in slow-motion; it’s more gorgeous than anything Slowdive conceived. “River Card” is just like the Jesus And Mary Chain at their most honey-sweetened, with all angst drained. Mostly, though, Cox projects an otherworldly allure in his atmospheres and melodies that recalls My Bloody Valentine’s recasting of rock as sound that prioritizes erotic texture and swoon-worthy levitation. (KRANKY) Dave Segal