The cloud of reverb that so often envelops Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox's uneasy tenor has lifted a bit for the Atlanta band's revelatory Daytrotter session. The unnamed fears hanging over the noisy psych-rock group's songs-- of flesh, of mortality, of the unavoidable temporariness of human connections-- remain. So do Deerhunter's deceptively accomplished playing and intense focus on sonic detail, from contemplative acoustic passages to feedback-laden freakouts. No dresses, blood, or psychodrama required.

First comes an uncharacteristically mellow rendition of "Heatherwood", the closing track from the band's stunning Cryptograms (would you believe, released just this year?). The song benefits from the addition of acoustic guitar while its slower pace leaves more room for Cox's cryptic lyrics about disappearance and, possibly, rebirth. Deerhunter Unplugged? Not quite: "Dr. Glass", from the nearly perfect Fluorescent Grey EP, becomes rawer and more explosive, Cox's voice turning harsh as he pans out on a globe filled with bodies. "So much to decay," he adds here, as if to underscore his point.

This Daytrotter session also offers what for many listeners will be their first chance to hear a couple of songs from Deerhunter's forthcoming third album, expected to be titled Microcastles. The methodical "Activa" accompanies Cox's high, plaintive tones with eerily wafting guitar strums, similar to those in Cryptograms' instrumental sections. Off-kilter sound effects overlay this spare foundation, as Cox's voice wavers between soft murmurs and throat-scraping shouts on yet another song filled with dread: "I tried," he repeats. Another new song, "Calvary Scars", somehow shapes translucent guitar arpeggios, a lo-fi beat, and oddly beautiful lyrics-- about a boy's crucifixion by his hero-- into a moving anthem with a wordless refrain. Deerhunter fans may have heard these tunes at shows or, in premature demo form, on the band's blog; when one record is over, a new one begins.

MP3s/Streams:> Deerhunter: Daytrotter Session
[Cryptograms and Fluorescent Grey are out now on Kranky]