Deerhoof

La Isla Bonita (Polyvinyl)

After 20 years, San Francisco fourpiece Deerhoof remains a wild card. All one can realistically expect from its bizarre noise-pop is that it will turn on itself at any second. The strongest tracks on 13th disc La Isla Bonita stand as testament to the dartboard style of see-what-sticks that Deerhoof has pledged loyalty to. “Paradise Girls” collages beats, jump-starting the album with a frail, pinched guitar distortion that then dives immediately into the shimmery slow jam “Mirror Monster,” a rare demonstration of restraint and some semblance of a cohesive melody. “Exit Only” turns into a crush of punk licks, delivered at lightning speed with vocalist Satomi Matsuzaki’s spat refrain, “Thank you for coming, get out,” neatly summarizing the band’s ethos. (Thu., 12mid, Cheer Up Charlies)

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This article appears in March 20 • 2015.

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