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One of the punk era’s strangest stepchildren, San Francisco quartet Deerhoof is at it again, with their 12th album, La Isla Bonita, on November 4th. The Svengalis of alt-rock have returned to their earlier, more abrasive sound with “Exit Only,” the first teaser of their upcoming LP. It’s a throwback to their younger days, chock-full of frenetic guitar distortion but also their trademark experimentation, with quirky break-beats and mashed-up rhythms.
Unlike their last album, Breakup Song, which sounded like a Japanese Devo on steroids, their newest song indeed evokes the spirit of early punk with the shadings of distorted guitar so prominent in Sonic Youth (a tourmate in Deerhoof’s younger days). The foursome – drummer-producer Greg Saunier, vocalist-bassist Satomi Matsuzaki and guitarists John Dieterich and Ed Rodriguez – remain one of the most creative forces in their genre, with each member switching up instruments and lead vocals on a seemingly random basis. If “Exit Only” is any indication of their newest direction, La Isla Bonita may be one of the year’s most interesting albums.
“We don’t set out to create masterpieces,” Saunier said in a press release. “The Deerhoof fan is a thrill-seeker. This is the latest volley in an ongoing conversation we’ve been honored to hold for 20 years.”
But what could be more masterful than creating unique and interesting music for nearly two decades?
