Mystic Familiar: A Cathartic and Spirited Journey with Dan Deacon

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Vibrant, dynamic, radiant—these are some of the most apt descriptors one could assign to Dan Deacon's latest full-length project, Mystic Familiar. The album serves as a somewhat elementary yet earnest and uplifting thesis on personal philosophy. The Baltimore producer excels at crafting songs that sonically reflect what is being expressed verbally—resulting in an experience that's as cathartic as it is spirited. Throughout the project, Deacon ruminates on concepts such as fear, fate, and ephemerality—but does so with a keen sense of optimism and hopefulness. Using a rich and vivid sound palette, he transports you to new worlds—leaving you entranced and utterly enthralled with the colorful expanses that surround you. 

The lush and resplendent "Become a Mountain" is a strong opener—beautifully epitomizing the most remarkable and distinguished aspects of the album. What begins as a singular, pulsating piano progression soon swells into a vast whirlwind of sound—comprised of sweeping and sprawling arpeggios; light, reverberated vocals; and powerful bursts of symphonic instrumentation. Throughout the song, Deacon carefully contemplates life's brevity—eventually challenging himself to overcome technology addiction and live in the present: "I'm still hungry for the future. On this day before me, will I seize it or scroll?" 

From here, we're met with "Hypnagogic"—and as you might assume from the title, this track is fairly ambient and lethargic; it's a hollow instrumental interlude, driven by a nonchalant synth melody that isn't given much direction. On its own, the song doesn't possess much merit—but in the context of the album, it does grant you a brief opportunity to catch your breath; the next five tracks are relentlessly stimulating. With "Sat By A Tree," the record really starts to take shape. Serving as the album's lead single, this track is melodious, frenzied, and densely layered—reminiscent of other popular neo-psychedelic acts, like Animal Collective. Lyrically, Deacon continues to reflect on the race against time. "It's a short life," he attests. "And sadly unrehearsed." 

This brings us to the albums biggest focal point: the "Arp I-IV" suite. This four-part suite serves as one continuous stream, with each section contributing to a greater, more cohesive whole. Thematically, this suite acts as a turning point in the album; it's here that Deacon introduces a definitive solution to the various fears and anxieties he's described thus far: companionship. In "Arp I: Wide Eyed," he peacefully and assuredly proclaims, "There are fears I cannot face, but I'll hold onto you as long as I can. You make me feel free." 

Deacon also uses this suite of songs to showcase his unique and skilled approach to composition, production, and music direction. There's a surprising amount of depth and variety to these instrumentals, which makes the aesthetic cohesion of the suite even more impressive. The tracks feature vocal processors, synthesizers, session musicians, and even robotic instruments. In fact, one of the defining attributes of this album is the robotic drums—which make for some blustering percussion. In a video published by his record label, Deacon mentions, "It was a long time coming to find good robotic drums. The point was never to replace human drummers; the point was to create a different kind of drumming" (Domino Recording Co., 2020, 5:34). If this was his goal, he certainly succeeded. The drumming in Mystic Familiar is fun, quirky, and distinctive—and it superbly complements his style of music. 

Following the thrilling and imposing "Arp I-IV" suite,  "Weeping Birch" serves a purpose similar to that of "Hypnagogic"; it once again allows you to unwind and catch your breath. The song is primarily driven by session strings—but it's later adorned with light, clattering symbols and shimmering pads and synths. Without abandoning form, the song gradually adds layers—flourishing through a series of tone shifts and crescendos. Its beauty is inescapable and undeniable. Subsequently, the lyrical and more traditionally structured "Fell Into The Ocean" leaves the listener with a final set of instructions: "Dig deep, burn bright, stay sharp, feel free." 

Before wrapping things up, Deacon pays homage to a beloved and well-esteemed companion. With a voice vulnerable and bare, he earnestly sings, "I'm sure there will be more times, I'm just not sure when. Glad we had so many, my friend." He then concludes his project with the seven-minute instrumental beast, "Bumble Bee Crown King." In addition to arpeggiated synths and robotic drums, this closer features some gorgeous, mathy guitar licks from Dustin Wong—which were apparently improvised and recorded "in a hotel room at three in the morning" (Domino Recording Co., 2020, 4:24). In typical Dan Deacon fashion, this song builds and swells into a great wall of sound before ebbing and waning into the ether. It lives and breathes—as does the rest of the album. Deacon fittingly offers a lavish finale to a project that's meritoriously purposeful, consistent, and enchanting. 

According to Deacon, "mystic familiars" are entities that can communicate magically with other people; throughout the record, he attempts to view emotional states (like doubt) as "familiars" that are working to repress him (Domino Recording Co., 2020, 0:19). If this album were a "familiar" itself, it would work in diametrical opposition to doubt. Rather than repress the listener, Mystic Familiar uplifts and enlivens the listener. With a playful, spiritual, and laudably focused batch of tracks, Deacon takes you on a journey that's thrilling and worthwhile. It's hard to walk away from this record with anything but increased positivity and a resolve for betterment. 

Be sure to listen to Mystic Familiar today:

Genre: Neo-Psychedelic / Indietronica
Label: Domino Recording Co.
Release Date: January 31, 2020