As Deastro (a name originally borrowed from a GI Joe villain), Detroit-based multi-instrumentalist / songwriter Randolph Chabot has certainly already accomplished some downright intimidating stuff at just 22 years of age. Not only has he self-released three albums from his parents’ basement, hand-drawn his own album covers and played countless shows amongst Detroit’s DIY venues alongside the likes of Dan Deacon, his preceding download-only Keepers collection was essentially a greatest hits collection culled from hundreds of demos. On the heels of the appearance of his ‘Light Powered’ instrumental of Ghostly International’s Ghostly Swim compilation, this latest album Moondagger sees him incorporating a full band for the first time, with spectacular results.
From opening track ‘Biophelia’s entrance amidst clattering live drums and wiry analogue synths into its sudden explosion into wall of sound rock production, it’s obvious that Chabot’s taken advantage of his increased sonic palette to take his urgent and unashamedly earnest / emotional songs to new levels. Perhaps most impressive however is the way in which he’s able to mesh his myriad pop influences, from Postal Service-style electronic-emo to Beach Boys-styled arrangements into almost desperately emotional arrangements that dazzle on a number of different levels. There are certainly echoes of Passion Pit and Grizzly Bear’s similarly playfully approach to be found in ‘Parallelogram’ and ‘Toxic Crusaders’, but it’s equally tempered by a penchant for economical synth-pop that suggests the lurking influence of New Order and Devo back there somewhere as well. Hyperactively restless yet somehow also incredibly focused, the 14 tracks collected here see Chabot drawing upon what sounds like his entire record collection for inspiration to create a New Wave pop meets electronic emo album that’s easily his most sonically impressive yet. Australian purchasers also get the added bonus of getting the preceding Keepers album included here as a second disc.
Chris Downton
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