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Jul 13, 2016 Web Exclusive By Charles Steinberg

Within the moonlit sphere fashioned by Animal Collective’s Josh Gibb in this mini solo album as Deakin, his particular influence on that group’s one of a kind sound becomes more understood. A midnight stroll through six vignettes rekindles effervescent orchestrations from the Animal Collective records he surfaced for, such as Feels, and makes his absence from their most recent Painting With more recognizable. Even an earlier Animal Collective vibe predating Deakin’s input is strung in with the panoramas of field recordings and rolling currents of funneled out loops.

Deakin seems to tap into and summon the pulsations of nature, basing his assembly on them. Organically composed and hovering in the astral, Sleep Cycle is an escape with the illusory contours of a dream.

Sometimes it’s nice to be kindly invited into listening. There’s a forward pace that’s not hurried, providing time to stop and smell the flowers. And because of delicate tonality and rhythmic subtlety, you acclimate to it as though wading through shin deep waters. These are nocturnal walks and the album title might suggest that it came together during insomniac hours. There’s even a stop along the path for a Native American like chant towards the stars on “Shadow Mine.”

This little record is like found money for old school Animal Collective fans and frolics in the visceral abandon and trance expressionism that characterized the band from the start. With less fanfare than his companions Panda Bear and Avey Tare, Deakin has put out a solo record of understated eloquence. (www.facebook.com/deakinofficial)

Author rating: 7.5/10