64. The Floodlight Collective

The Floodlight Collective by Lotus Plaza
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off, I'm a huge fan of everything Deerhunter and I feel that Lockett Pundt is an extraordinarily talented musician with greater potential down the road waiting for him on the horizon.

This shoegaze experimental album by the shy guitarist is a great debut. "Red Oak Way" meanders with emotional sensitivity and a sort of tone deaf vulnerability apparent in the young guitarist's vocals. What I appreciate about the album is the fact that its washed out, ethereal, airy sound isn't about achieving perfection. It's a very loose catalog of tracks that almost blend into each other.

"Quicksand" takes it back with retro country influences. I will say that I wish he would sing out a little more on these tracks so I can actually hear what he's saying. These tracks are not as vocally strong as the later pieces he's written for Deerhunter like "Desire Lines" and "Fountain Stairs" on Halcyon Digest as far as being able to hear what's going on and song structure, but it's possible that may have been deliberate. Also, Lockett, from what I've read, is a more reserved, shy personality than the other band members of Deerhunter. I think he's learning to shine regardless of that. Making a solo project has shown his skills as an artist as well as his courage to venture a little outside of his own personal comfort zone. In fact, the quietness and sensitivity is actually a nice contrast to the typical rock star image we've been bombarded with as a culture. There's potential for a greater emotional depth which I think he's attempting to meet, and I believe adds some value and color to the musical landscape.

There are truly some exquisitely beautiful moments. "These Years" is art. The humming electronics, choral atmospheric expansiveness, and tinkling fragility takes you to another realm. Very cool.

"Different Mirrors" is sonically very similar to "Red Oak Way" in its emotional quality and vibe, but is a lovely track nonetheless. "Whiteout", which follows has a gentle melodic quality that is quite beautiful. It seems to lull you and rock you to a peaceful state, which I find to be very comforting and refreshing.

"What Grows?" picks up the pace a little with the reverb guitar, which is signature Pundt. It's a breath of fresh air to hear a shoegaze act that doesn't sound as dark as A Place to Bury Strangers, showcasing Pundt's ability to take this style of music to a lighter place.

"Sunday Night" is quite playful with the electronic theme plucking a very catchy rhythm throughout. Hearing this live must be pretty awesome. The track ends with a pulsing rhythm that makes me think of a fast heartbeat.

"Antoine" is no less than magical. It glows with a fullness that blows the mind. His vocals in this one are similar to Sigur Ros. Pundt may not even be entirely aware of where his songs are going to take the listener, but wherever we go, the melodies seem to envelop you in the process of taking you to that otherworldly place.

What I love most is his ability to incorporate harmonious as well as dissonant elements in such subtle ways. Nothing about his music is overproduced or over-refined. He allows the polarities of dissonance and consonance to exist simultaneously. It's almost like a reflection in nature. It's not meant to be chiseled out in perfect defined lines. These lines are more impressionistic and blurred, creating hazes and fogs with golden lights that burn through.

"The Floodlight Collective" almost sounds like music for an art installation. There's this digital playfulness that plucks and dials out notes in the beginning, and then out of nowhere, this steady synth grows amidst the playfulness and drowns it out in fullness. It blazes with light.

I do feel Pundt's music reflects life and nature in many ways. You can hear the light in it. You can hear the clouds in it. You can hear the water dripping in it even though he doesn't actually use any real natural sounds in any of the tracks. The electronics seem to emulate it.

Another aspect of Lockett's songwriting is his capacity for lyrical depth. In "A Threaded Needle", he writes:

With the cuts that scar your mind
Afflictions that don't heal with time
You slowly map the fading lights
In the parking lots of these endless nights

Touching on spirituality and finding one's way, the images evoke something of direct personal experience. My only hesitation in giving the album a full 5 stars is the fact that I wish he would have sung louder so that I wouldn't have to look these lyrics up online.

Also, that pulsing synth closing the track and ending on that high note is one of the more beautiful, poignant sounds I've heard in a long time.

All in all, a pretty great album. If you listen to Desire Lines on Halcyon Digest or even the live Interface performance here, you'll hear that already Pundt's singing and songwriting ability has advanced to a realm of sophistication, wisdom, and intelligence that is profoundly beyond his years.

I hope he comes out with a new solo project that continues to reflect more of what he's capable of soon.



Track listing:

1. Red Oak Way
2. Quicksand
3. These Years
4. Different Mirrors
5. Whiteout
6. What Grows?
7. Sunday Night
8. Antoine
9. The Floodlight Collective
10. A Threaded Needle

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