Deerhoof: Breakup Song

- Breakup Song is San Fransiscan band Deerhoof's Twelth full length album in nearly as many years and it is only following on from last years glossy release Deerhoof vs Evil.
The album begins with the title track and straight off the glitch ridden bat we can tell that we are in Deerhoof town with vocalist Satomi Matsuzaki's up beat vocals underneath a deceptively easy beat and frenetic guitar line. The track bares similarities to the last release and with that in mind so does the rest of the record with more of an electronic abundance there are still a lot of various little clicks and quirks that make that release as odd as the back catalogue.
Tracks like There's That Grin and Mario's Flaming Whiskers III have this distinct undercurrent of hip hop in them with their design and really call for you to get down and boogie. Even Flower has this upbeat hip hop element to it and is possibly the most familiar song on the record to Deerhoof fans of yesteryear.
It is the short attack of To Fly or Not to Fly that brings this aggression level with distorted synths and an almost post rock type guitar for an odd minute then transforms to something as lively as the album covers neon lights then back finishing off with a brutal (in Deerhoof terms) guitar line. This then transforms into the big band inspired The Trouble With Candyhands which when combined with Fly sequentially proves to be the highlight five minutes of the album.
The album finishes with Fete d'Adieu and if you have Deerhoof vs Evil as the next album in your iTunes playlists with the crossfader on still feels like you are listening to the same record. Breakup Songs can be a challenging and rewarding release just as the same with all Deerhoof albums. If you look at the album in Deerhoof terms it perhaps isn't pushing the boundaries but in comparison outside of the 'hoof's world it is stupidly expansive. With the band having done almost everything to do with the album themselves it's clear they are proud of the record and you will inevitably be as well weather or not you are new to the band or an old friend.

- Brad Armstrong.