The brain of electronic music is back for a sixth go at sweeping us off our feet with “Glass Riffer,” an artistic explosion of eclectic sounds that showcase the mastermind that is Dan Deacon.
Known for his experimentalism, Deacon does not shy away from showcasing his profound talent with electronics without so much as breaking a sweat. “Glass Riffer” is transcendent in that each composition allows the mind to wander from the body and experience a bliss that is unique to the organic nature of Deacon’s craft.
Deacon’s focus on blending different sounds works to his advantage in “Glass Riffer” as each composition feels as though you’re opening doors to different compartments in his mind. “Sheathed Wings” is a perfect example of this blending. The rhythm is almost too perfect and the addition of his distorted voice makes the song feel weightless. Deacon is able to grab your attention almost instantaneously with this blending, never leaving his listener bored and always allowing room for a dance party in between his deep rhythms.
“When I Was Done Dying” showcases the lyrical maturity Deacon has perfected since his infancy in 2003.
Deacon never relents in the piece and calmly states: “When I was done dying, my conscience regain / So I became a struggle, a nothingness strange / I’m a flash made of time, I knew form blasted out / And it scarred on me so, and I burst out a shout out / Which my legs ran frantic like birds from a nest / And I ran until drained, leaving no choice but rest.”
While Deacon doesn’t always bring his lyrics to the forefront in his music, the results are exceptional when he seamlessly does.
When listening to Deacon’s music, it becomes a constant struggle to see what reacts first, the mind or the body. The primary goal of “Glass Riffer” is to distort the mind with audible chaos while laying down a beat that will get the body moving; this always leaves a pleasant confusion for the person to discern for themselves. “Mind On Fire” achieves this mission perfectly with Deacon fluctuating the audio to various levels, while he assaults the ears with a rhythm that is relentless and allows the body to take over.
“Learning To Relax” is an oxymoron because of its focus on the beat that gets the body moving, but admits the mind to rest from the trip it has taken with the rest of the album.
As the album culminates with its finale, “Steely Blues,” our personal being feels transformed as Deacon’s beat sweeps us into his Dance Zone, where Deacon divides the crowd and calls fans up to dance, introduced on the Arcade Fire tour. The song feels celebratory and quietly drifts off, making us wonder where Deacon’s next adventure will bring our mind and body.
As a whole, “Glass Riffer” is the perfect electronic album that comes once in a lifetime. Deacon has asserted himself as the creative mastermind of electronic music. As he is only in his mid-30s, one can only imagine where his mind will bring ours next.
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