Gunnera

Pfarmers is the new project from Danny Seim (Menomena, Lackthereof), Bryan Devendorf (The National), and Dave Nelson (David Byrne & St. Vincent, Sufjan Stevens). According to Seim, The record is about a dream I had where I'm reluctantly accepting a fear of drowning by focusing on being reincarnated as a giant Gunnera plant, which thrive on the banks of rivers (specifically the Jordan River i. e. The Biblical promised land) after I paint myself gold and sink to the bottom like the El Dorado of South American folklore. Despite the notoriety of it's members, Pfarmers sounds unlike anything they've produced before. Devendorf's trademark drum style anchors everything, but now it's been filtered so heavily as to almost sound mechanical. Seim contributes his layered vocals and the deep, almost funky bass grooves, while Nelson provides complex spatial arrangements. The result sounds like Lackthereof (Danny's solo project) as played by the Tom Tom Club through a THX soundsystem. It's a diverse record, switching swiftly from catchy pop hooks to ambient instrumental movements. For those willing to dive in, this album is incredibly rewarding.