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Blitzen Trapper: Destroyer of the Void

Sub Pop

With its bright, brilliant fifth album, Portland’s Blitzen Trapper continues to abandon its origins in experimental folk in favor of a sound that takes its cosmic Americana flavor and compounds it with such a high-end sonic sheen that you will find yourself double checking the album credits to make sure Bob Ezrin wasn’t involved. As it turns out, Destroyer of the Void was recorded in the attic studio of acclaimed Portland musician/producer/engineer Mike Coykendall (Bright Eyes, She and Him). Coykendall’s magic touch behind the boards really punches up the ELO-meets-CSNY moments across this 12-song cycle. Particular standouts are the title cut, a six-minute mini rock opera, and the Badfinger-esque “Evening Star,” as well as the quieter moments like the Western-tinged story-song “The Man Who Would Speak True,” which showcases frontman Eric Earley’s quintessence as the indie rock Louis L’Amour.