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Blackout Beach: "Beautiful Burning Desire"

1:56 p.m. · September 8, 2011 · by Matthew Fiander

You probably know Carey Mercer from the bizarre theatrics to both his band Frog Eyes and Swan Lake, his side project with Dan Bejar and Spencer Krug. But Mercer has had a side-side project for a while, the very bizarre but way undersold Blackout Beach. It's basically a solo project, and it's far more dissonant and troubling than his other bands.  Mercer last gave us a Blackout Beach album in 2008, with Skin of Evil, and now he's bringing ti back again with the not-at-all-subtly titled Fuck Death. The album is Mercer's attempt to make something "about beauty and war." Specific, right?

Well, if his intentions seem vague and impossibly huge, so does our first taste of the album, the 7-minute creep-drone of "Beautiful Burning Desire." Like Spencer Krug's recent album as Moonface, Mercer goes heavy on the keys here, employing three synths to make you feel as claustrophobic as possible. Still, there's something hypnotizing about this sound. It's nothing like Skin of Evil, but it's a darker take on Mercer's oddball histrionics. Check it out for yourself over at Stereogum.

Fuck Death is out Nov. 15 on Dead Oceans.