Following on from his extensive back catalogue of downbeat tracks, eccentric psychedelic-indie-folk project Manic Pixie Dream has released this (at first) seemingly straightforward track, which unfurls into a disturbingly jagged experiment. Some creepy close harmonies (‘nothing is right’) reminiscent of The Beatles are the first thing to show ‘Deserter’ as the unique work it is, before the Radiohead-like manipulated arpeggios continue this theme. The Liverpool-based singer/songwriter draws this poignant track, taken from his brand new album Coping Mechanism, to a close using a barrage of sharp distorted synth lines, which combine in a rumbling collage of sound that juxtaposes the calm introduction we heard just two minutes before. -Dan Peeke