by David Wilikofsky
I think it’s uncontroversial to say that Deerhoof are an institution, and after nearly three decades of recording and performing together, it’s easy to take their consistent excellence for granted. It’s also easy to forget just how varied their back catalog is; though the band has their own distinctive sonic DNA, each album seems to twist and mould it into a new shape. Miracle-Level represents the latest in a long line of evolutions. It’s a set of songs that simultaneously pushes the band in new directions and serves as a perfect entrypoint into their vast discography.
On the surface, Miracle-Level is distinct from the rest of Deerhoof’s catalogue in two ways: it’s the first album the band recorded front to back in a professional studio, and it’s the first set of songs the band fully wrote and performed in Japanese. The former seems to be more of an implementation detail than anything else. The album may have a tad more studio polish than previous outings, but it still sounds like quintessential Deerhoof; though they cite inspirations as disparate as Rosalía and Mozart opera, it’s all reinterpreted through their distinctive brand of spiky DIY rock. The change of language, though, is transformative, especially for the English speaking listener. Because I couldn’t understand the lyrics without translations, this linguistic shift allowed me to really focus on and appreciate how these songs fit together. Ferocious art-rock and tender ballads form a complex jigsaw puzzle as the band effortlessly veers between melody and abrasion. Guitar lines seem to tangle together, subtle rhythmic shifts leap out; the small details of their compositions snap into sharper focus than ever before.
In some ways Miracle-Level stands apart from the rest of their catalog (aside from being their only album in Japanese, it’s certainly on the poppier side for the group), but it still represents what makes this band special: they’re fearless. I’ve felt compelled to dig into their back catalog over the past few weeks because I’ve enjoyed Miracle-Level so much, and each album, whether I’m revisiting it or hearing it for the first time, has reaffirmed that quintessential quality. They’re a band that rarely sits still yet always sounds utterly distinctive. If, like me, you lost track of Deerhoof over the past few years amid the unrelenting pace of new releases, fear not: this is the perfect place to dive back in.