Album of the Week: Lotus Plaza - The Floodlight Collective

Given the critical success of Atlas Sound, the solo work of Deerhunter front man/androgynine Bradford Cox, many have been anticipating the upcoming release of another Deerhunter side project. From Lotus Plaza (a.ka. guitarist Lockett Pundt) comes The Floodlight Collective. While Atlas Sound’s 2008 release Let the Blind Lead Those Who Cannot Feel utilized enough unique ambient, found sound, and electronic elements to justify its own existence (the material on the album just seemed unfit to place on a Deerhunter release), the question must be begged what is the main difference between Pundt’s Lotus Plaza and his main group? Not a lot really. There is little deviance between the two outfits: The Floodlight Collective delves into the same mixture of ambiance, R’n’B, and shoegaze found on Deerhunter’s 2008 release Microcastle/New Weird Era. Hell, Bradford Cox even guest drums on "Different Mirrors", solidifying this thing as a Deerhunter appendix. This would be disappointing if it weren’t for the fact that the album itself was such a great listen. Sure, Pundt may as well have called the album Microcastle Pt. 2, but The Floodlight Collective churns out amazing lo-fi rock soaked with haunting atmospheres. It plays like a soundtrack to contacting the ghost of a deceased lover, or at very least, a Richard Kelly film. "Quicksand" and snaps like a Motown song from some parallel dimension, "What Frows?" possesses feedback bursts and ghostly vocals which evoke a jam between the Jesus and Mary Chain and the Pale Saints, while the seven minute long "Antoine" exudes an ambient beauty reminiscent of Eno’s Discreet Music. Then there is "Whiteout", the standout track of the album, the song that sees Pundt's song craft at its most care-free and chilled out (this song is sure to appeal to fans of the Durutti Column or those who enjoy the less experimental outings from the Animal Collective). This album may not be the extraordinary surprise that Atlas Sound was, or an instant classic like Microcastle, but this album is still a worth while listen for those who enjoy ethereal music that’s both a bit sad and a bit scary to listen alone to in the dark.

Listen To: "White Out", "Quicksand", "What Frows?"

RIYL: Deerhunter, Animal Collective, Ariel Pink