That his ‘main’ band Grizzly Bear is currently white-hot ensures Daniel Rossen’s Department Of Eagles project gains elevated significance. Largely taken from (in their words) a “failed” January 2006 session, this dredge through their formative recordings is an unfettered joy; charting Rossen and sidekick Fred Nicolaus’ transformation from green-gilled college mates, to masters in the creation of dark, expansive Americana. A series of five ‘Practice Room Sketches’ outline a burgeoning sense of the grandiose, while the surging skiffle and soaring chorus of ‘Brightest Minds’ is positively euphoric. A magical insight into the development of Rossen’s creative genius.
8/10
Words by John Freeman
