Deradoorian

Mind Raft EP (Lovepump United)

By Christine Werthman
Published: May 23rd, 2009 | 9:00am

Angel Deradoorian, half of the female vocal providers in the Dirty Projectors, shows her solo colors on Mind Raft, the debut EP from her project, Deradoorian. Deradoorian’s solo work is not nearly as challenging to listen to as her previous work with the full band, which will be a dismay to some — and a delight to others. The Dirty Projectors have a jerking and experimental sound, while Deradoorian’s is more tempered and melodic. Although this EP does not contain quite as many of those instrumental quirks and jagged edges, her vocals still give the album an adventurous side.

Deradoorian’s powerful, sultry alto is made to bleat out notes and squeeze through twisted vocal passages while in the Dirty Projectors, but she shows her softer, more contained side as she maintains a lower range and resists leap-frogging to higher notes. “Weed Jam,” the album’s opener, is the most Dirty Projector-y that Deradoorian allows her voice to go, but the effect is counteracted by a small ensemble of smooth, choir-like female voices surrounding her own. “You Carry the Deed” shows off her ability to get down with a soulful jam. The way she spirals out on vocal riffs makes it seem like she could lead a double life as an R&B singer.

But right when you start to imagine her in a vocal flourish war with Xtina, she comes in with the heavy and lumbering “Holding Pattern.” This song is the grittiest number on the EP, and the contrast stands out particularly well against closer, “Moon.” The song contains a simple, repetitive blend of plucked acoustic guitar, with Deradoorian’s voice adding trills and bending notes in a way that makes them sound like they belong in a piece of Arabic music. Dark and echoey guitars crash into the song in the second half, and by the end of the piece, it’s clear that Deradoorian has a darker, smokier musical persona than the jangling, angular sounds of the Dirty Projectors would have you guess.

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