We Sang, Therefore We Were＜限定盤/Purple Vinyl＞

ディアフーフのドラマーとして活躍するGreg Saunierがソロ作品をリリース。シンガーが交代したディアフーフと評されるようにディアフーフのソウルを持ちながらGregらしい個性が光る作品。基本的にはGregによる演奏でアグレッシブなギターやベースなどは驚くようなアレンジや演奏を見せている。

Greg Saunier is so busy with Deerhoof and his myriad other projects that its hard to believe he has any downtime, but a rare lull in his schedule in late 2023 provided the opportunity to record his debut solo album. Appearing more than 30 years into his career, We Sang, Therefore We Were lives up to Sauniers reputation as an underground rock veteran while offering its fair share of surprises. Sauniers musical DNA is so entwined with Deerhoofs that escaping the connection is almost impossible -- and in this case, unnecessary. We Sang frequently recalls his bands inclusive, subversive, invigorating modus operandi: "There Were Rebels" is an anthemic, poignant statement of purpose along the lines of Future Teenage Cave Artists title track (later, "No One Displayed the Vigor Necessary to Avert Disasters Approach" echoes that albums wild swings between hope and despair). Elsewhere, the jabbing, fuzzy funk-punk of "Grow Like a Plant" and "Yeah You, Person"s revved-up mod riffage are just as potent as any of Deerhoofs highlights. Given that Saunier plays every instrument on We Sang, Therefore We Were himself, its experiments often feel more intense than they might have in the hands of a group; "Dont Design Yourself This Way"s dizzying tangents and dynamic shifts are tailor-made for a one-man band. Hearing his ideas run riot is a real pleasure as he fuses loping Western swing with bleeping electronics on "Furrowed Sugarloaf" or transforms dreamy folk into sprightly Latin-tinged pop on "Blame Yourself." Saunier saves the albums biggest surprise for last, when "Playing Tunes of Victory on the Instruments of Our Defeat" shows off his skills as a composer with an orchestral section thats equal parts Appalachian Spring majesty and Merrie Melodies mischief. He also adopts a different songwriting voice than he uses with Deerhoof, borrowing some of Kurt Cobains sarcasm to convey his disgust with the entropy and apathy of the 2020s. He uses this influence most overtly on the synth-grunge condemnation of "Rip the Atmosphere from the Wind," but its also woven into "Front-load the Fun"s dry observations ("We care for each other/And it didnt make the news") and the tension between the fist-pumping guitars and Sauniers singsong delivery of lyrics like "I cry and shriek in agony" on "Not for Mating, Not for Pleasure, Not for Territory." We Sang, Therefore We Were may have been born out of restlessness and anger, but its also a remarkably fun dispatch from one of indie musics most inventive musical minds. ~ Heather Phares