Atlas Sound LET THE BLIND LEAD THOSE WHO CAN SEE BUT CANNOT FEEL [Kranky]

Jumping on the so-called "freak folk" bandwagon comes Atlas Sound-a solo project of Bradford James Cox, lead singer of four-piece Atlanta outfit Deerhunter-with his debut album under the moniker Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel. Like many "freak folk" artists Atlas Sound combines elements of experimental folk music with electronica resulting in a lo-fi psychedelic feel.

Much like last year's Person Pitch from Panda Bear, Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel has an ambient and dreamy Beach Boys-esque sound, utilizing minimal drums and even less guitar in favor of a layered mesh of reverberating synths, chimes and warped background oooh and ahhh vocals.

Most of the album was recorded at home-adding a richly warm yet hollow feel to the record. The result is almost as if you're listening to the album in a canyon as the music echoes around you.

Many songs on the album feature Cox's whisper-like voice that makes the lyrics almost unintelligible. These ethereal vocals blend perfectly with the mélange of sounds and instruments that comprise each track.

Opening the album is the fittingly haunting "A Ghost Story" which features an eerie recording of a young boy telling a ghost story. There's something both compelling and harrowing about the boy's innocent, often stuttering voice coupled with Cox's surreal instrumentals. While the titular track, a hazy, slightly nautical instrumental gently lulls the album to a close.

Not all the tracks on the album are listless and melancholic, sandwiched in between the more esoteric songs are a few slightly more upbeat, almost indie-pop type songs-albeit with the same oneiric foundation-like "River Card" and "Ativan."

Although Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel isn't anything too original or groundbreaking, Bradford James Cox clearly had fun experimenting with sounds and layers and the result is something truly beautiful.