The week leading up to your debut album must be a daunting one. With suits pushing you from one press requirement to ensuring every video and promotional photo perfectly fits the aesthetic of the music you’ve put years into. It’s a long road to land at your debut, but for Animal Collective member Brian Weitz, better known as Geologist, and multi-faceted guitarist Doug Shaw, their journey to forming a duo is built on nothing but a burning love for music and it shows on their debut album, A Shaw Deal. The 7-song album has Weitz plugging Shaw’s guitar prowess through a series of warping modulators, and the results are not of this earth.
A Shaw Deal plays like a strenuous workout; one must surrender to the actions to enjoy the fruits of one’s labor. Not that spinning these records is hard work since Weitz’s grasp on his experimentation makes these songs sound honed and urgent despite their use of space-aged ambiance. This album is about letting go of expectations and allowing the present moment to dictate your mood. Focusing on the past will only lessen the impact of the album’s nuances. Ironically, the past is part of what makes A Shaw Deal feel so special. Weitz and Shaw have been friends for decades, close admirers of each other whose musical paths never crossed in a studio. A few years ago, Shaw began sharing tidbits of his guitar playing online, and Weitz became enamored. The idea was to make these songs a present for Shaw, a testament to their alien-like chemistry. The duo heard the final product and graciously decided to share these songs.
The duo’s chemistry is at the heart of A Shaw Deal, although it may take a few listens to jump through your speakers. Sometimes, Weitz’s off-kilter production approach leaves Shaw’s guitars unrecognizable, forcing a deeper listen to understand all the psychedelic tricks being played. Then again, listening hard is a lost art that this duo seems to be in complete control of. A Shaw Deal is meditative, more of a tranquil garden than your typical instrumental LP. Moments like “Knuckles to Nostrils” and “Petticoat” loop blissfully as sparks of electronics grind against Shaw’s complex guitar melodies. These moments arrive as the more conventional side of the album, even as competing melodies battle for dominance. Its songs like “Ripper Called” appear to sample the making of a balloon animal, and the single “Route 9 Falls” offers the more challenging side of the album.
Rather than formatting the album as a collection of songs, A Shaw Deal plays like a long odyssey through Weitz and Shaw’s lofty visions. A Shaw Deal sounds like a transmission from another dimension, reaching out to deliver a message of togetherness and fearlessness. This album is a bold statement that is sure to grow even more enticing as time passes. Each listen unearths another quaint element that completely changes the song’s atmosphere. A Shaw Deal is a challenging listen that yields otherworldly treasures, with Shaw’s guitar acting as the diamond in the rough yet soothing electronics of Weitz’s mystifying mind.
