Dan Deacon – 'America' review
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: Dan Deacon – AmericaWords by Sam Walton
Of course, growing up is hard to do, but if you manage it without coming across a) self-righteous, b) smug or c) boring, then bring it on. So when recovering electro-prankster Dan Deacon named his latest in a series of increasingly sensible records “America”, with all the portentousness that accompanies that word in such a divisive election year, it could’ve gone either way. Thankfully though, Deacon’s “America” wasn’t the one of bickering political slugfests that we saw in November, but a joyous lark through its backwaters and sprawling landscapes brought to you by chamber orchestras, thunderous electronics and subtle drones and loops that felt accomplished and sophisticated but never dull. Its 22-minute suite for strings, horns and noise, in particular, was a joy: while Deacon fans of old would find little there in common with his DIY-techno past, there was plenty to whet the appetite for Deacon’s future – proof, if ever it was needed, that sometimes the best tricks are performed by old dogs.
