GutterPutter

Deeper is a Chicago-based quartet whose main focus has long been around distorted post-punk. With positive reviews from the likes of Pitchfork on their debut, the band sought to try and stake out more attention with 2020’s Auto-Pain with more fanfare yet little attention. Through hard work on their behalf, they managed to strike gold when they signed up with one of the most successful non-mainstream music labels Sub Pop. With great aspirations, Deeper had their eyes set on their latest release – Careful! which is an album about “looking after one another.”

If you’re thinking of entering this record with expectations that its production might be rusty, you might be in for a disappointment. There’s the lack of distortion to be found in the guitars, the lack of smudgeness that makes the bass feel dampened out, and no bombastic layering that makes the drumming sound cacophonic. In tracks like ‘Glare’, ‘Bite’, or ‘Sub’, the more professional-feeling direction in Deeper’s sounds with bits of synth paves the way for comparison towards the pre-mainstream new wave or dance punk. This certain shine lends a subtle uniqueness to Deeper in a way that few bands ever succeeded in achieving.

The additional perk for Careful!’s characteristics is the singing from the lead vocalist Nic Gohl. Admittedly, the danceable instrumentation might not have much in them to warrant further discussion which feels more apparent when the rhythmic emphasis gets turned down in ‘devil-loc’ or ‘Airplane Air’. Yet, it’s the impassioned performance from Gohl that truly carries the band through on the album. There’s the certain restraint, the lack of overstepping that allows Gohl to retain the cynicism that makes post-punk so appealing to listeners. However, there’s the anxiety that lends some bit of credence towards Talking Heads’ David Byrne that is further enhanced by his swagger in ‘Everynight’, ‘Fame’, and ‘Tele’. This relative bit of shyness offers a certain charm by making Deeper feel more like friends who might not feel confident in themselves than pretentious thinkers; the more next-door feeling of the band helps to add to the thematic attempt at camaraderie.

That’s not to ignore as well that the instrumentation performance as a whole happens to be synergistic and tight in its flow. Right at the beginning in ‘Build a Bridge’, the legato in the notes between the two clashing guitars presents a sinister melody that, especially after the short solo, adds tension to the vocal-layered chorus. The bassline in ‘Dualbass’ compliments the groovy, hi-hat-driven drumming pattern amidst the more breathy depiction of loyalty. Finally, the textures within ‘Pressure’ works like a complete charm in its slow crescendo to close out the album as a whole. The mix of electric and acoustic guitar strums, simple snares, and staccato synths marks a glitchy end to the record that leaves you satisfied with how it’s been played out.

Careful! stands out on its own two feet compared to contemporary releases this year. It doesn’t offer a clear innovative approach or original identity when compared to other bands. What it does offer is a certain concision and proficiency in Deeper’s musicianship that could well draw comparisons to the likes of Spoon. If you want something that’s unlike anything you’ve ever listened to before, then this will disappoint you immensely. If you decide to keep your expectations down and just enjoy the music as granted, then this is a real treat to enjoy.