Does originality really matter so much?
In the current music scene, the quickest way for an artist to get noticed is by bringing something new to the table. It’s pretty much impossible to whip up something completely unheard of, from a musical tabula rasa, but even a new twist on an older idea or an amalgamation of older influences feels fresh.
Enter Finnish-French outfit The Dø. They play guitars. There’s some drumming and mild electronica. Lead singer Olivia Merilahti sings in a charming European accent. Do they really stand out? It’s like Merilahti sings on “Too Insistent”: “What’s so special to love about me/I’m ordinary”.
They may not be special, but they produced one of the most enjoyable indie records of last year with Both Ways Open Jaws. Unafraid to delve into alternative sounds, yet retaining a lot of pop sensibility, the whole album is incredibly listenable from the electronic keyboard-driven opener “Dust It Off” to the ambience of ending track “Moon Mermaids” (which has inevitably drawn comparisons to Björk).
Those two tracks are a great example of the serene atmosphere created by Merilahti’s gentle voice and emotional delivery. This makes it a shame that they decided to release “Slippery Slope” as the first single from the album. It’s a pale M.I.A. imitation which, while enjoyable for its playfulness and tribal drums, doesn’t fit too well onto the album; especially after the bedtime peacefulness of “Leo Leo”.
There’s also a few songs that will really appeal to the indie kids. The guitar-driven “Smash Them All” has a sort of cinematic feel to it, while “Too Insistent” opens with one of the most addictive guitar riffs of recent memory. Some songs are just enjoyable for their oddness, such as the oldly feel of “The Calendar”.
The lyrical content of the songs is also a big plus. Marrying the tenderness of Merilahti’s voice with song themes expressing vulnerability and insecurity is something that works well. At the same time, a more light-hearted tone sometimes works to good effect; a great example being the excellent “Gonna Be Sick!”, sounding like a humorous protest for the most part, but with a grand-sounding vocal section leading to the brilliantly anticlimactic “I’m gonna throw, gonna throw, gonna throw up.”
Something which at times takes away from the satisfaction is the lack of focus on the album. We’ve spoken before about bands who don’t settle on a sound, and whilst eclecticism can be admirable, it doesn’t scream confidence like an artist who has a feel for a niche. But then maybe that’s the idea of The Dø; taking a variety of influences and patching them together into a rather pleasant collage. In any case, it’s a valiant effort from a band who make up for a lack of innovation with a loveable attitude and genuine talent.
This album was released by Village Green on 14th November 2011, available from HMV.
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