猎鹿人

Deerhunter is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, that was formed in 2001 by vocalist-guitarist Bradford Cox and drummer Moses Archuleta. Its most recent lineup comprised Cox, Archuleta, guitarist-keyboardist Lockett Pundt, bassist Josh McKay, and keyboardist-saxophonist Javier Morales. Deerhunter have described themselves as "ambient punk," though they incorporate a wide range of genres, including noise, garage rock, art rock, as well as significant pop elements.

Founded by Cox, Archuleta and bass guitarist Paul Harper, Deerhunter's first stable line-up featured guitarist Colin Mee and Harper's replacement Justin Bosworth. After recording a split EP with Alphabets, Bosworth died aged 24 on March 29, 2004, of head injuries suffered during a skateboarding accident. The band recorded their first studio album, Turn It Up Faggot (2005), with Josh Fauver occupying the vacant role of bass guitarist. Following the album's release, Cox asked childhood friend, Lockett Pundt, to join Deerhunter as a song-writing partner, second guitarist, and occasional lead vocalist.

Recorded in two days, the band's follow-up, Cryptograms (2007), combined ambient work and more angular garage rock songs. The release was quickly followed by the EP, Fluorescent Grey (2007). While touring the releases, Mee departed from Deerhunter, due to disagreements over the band's schedule, but rejoined soon after. Deerhunter then released two studio albums, Microcastle (2008) and Weird Era Cont. (2008). Both albums were recorded without the participation of Mee, who again departed for a second and final time. The band enlisted former cheerleader and high school friend of Cox, Whitney Petty, as his touring replacement.

Recorded as a four-piece alongside producer Ben H. Allen, the band's fourth studio album Halcyon Digest (2010) was released to widespread critical acclaim and was ranked as Pitchfork's 29th and Stereogum's 78th best album of the decade. In 2012, the departure of long-time bassist Fauver placed the band's future in doubt. Cox, Pundt and Archuleta regrouped with new members, bassist Josh McKay and guitarist Frankie Broyles, to record the primitivist garage rock and musique concrète-influenced Monomania (2013). The album expanded on a darker and more disturbing sound, complete with treated tape recordings of rats and insects, exploring themes of disassociation and mental illness.

The following year, Cox was struck by a vehicle while walking his dog near his home in Atlanta's Grant Park. During his recovery and rehabilitation he focused on writing songs resulting in the album Fading Frontier (2015). Several years later, the band released its most recent album, Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared? (2019), which was produced by Cate Le Bon. The band has been on an extended hiatus since finishing the album's accompanying tour in late 2019.

History

2001–2005: Formation and Turn It Up Faggot

The band was co-founded in 2001 by vocalist Bradford Cox, drummer and keyboardist Moses Archuleta and bassist Paul Harper. The name Deerhunter, which Cox has repeatedly disparaged, was chosen by the band's first drummer, Dan Walton. At the time, Cox didn't care for the band's name, thinking it to be just another temporary art project. Colin Mee, whom Cox met while Mee was living at the Atlanta-based label Die Slaughterhaus Records with members of Black Lips, soon joined the band. The two bonded over a shared interest in Dada, the 20th century composers Olivier Messiaen and György Ligeti, and the British bands The Fall, The Raincoats, and Cabaret Voltaire. In 2004 the group's second bassist, Justin Bosworth, died of head injuries suffered in a skateboarding accident aged 24. He appeared on only one Deerhunter release, the Deerhunter/Alphabets Split, released before their debut album. Joshua Fauver, of Atlanta-based punk band Electrosleep International, then took up the position as bassist.

Deerhunter's first album, Turn It Up Faggot, released on June 28, 2005, and was "the result of a lot of negativity". After the band finished the album, in an indication of how difficult it was to record in the wake of his bandmate's death, Cox said "I don't ever want to make this album again". The album's liner notes are dedicated to Bosworth. After the release of Turn It Up Faggot, Cox asked his friend Lockett Pundt to join the band. The two had been friends since meeting at Harrison High School, meeting through a mutual friend, with Pundt commenting in a 2009 interview, "I was summoned by this girl who was in a drama class of mine named Lauren. She told me that Brad wanted to meet me more or less... It was arranged to go down in the bus ports between class... And so we met in the bus port".