Review: The Dø - Both Ways Open Jaws

Artist: The Dø
Title: Both Ways Open Jaws
Format: Full-length
Year: 2011
Label: Cinq7
Genre: Experimental pop
Rating: 81 / 100

The world of experimental music could be divided in two parts: experimental music I døn't like and experimental music I dø like, The Dø definitely fits in this last category. I found this album by typing "2011" into Soulseek, and picking out every band with an awesome name, saying this, please don't expect any deep comparisons with their earlier works, because this is really the first I ever heard from them. The only thing I know it's a half French, half Finnish band consisting of the Finnish singer/musician Olivia Merilahti and French multi-instrumentalist Dan Levy. Together they make some kind of indie pop with tiny hints of folk music, probably loved by people who also fell in love with Wounded Rhymes, Lykke Li's last (fantastic) album.

One thing that really distinguishes them from the major part of indie pop bands spoiling your ears nowadays are their very extensive use of all kinds of instruments, it goes from tribal like drumming to glitch beats and samplers, to violins, via trumpets to synthesizers after bleeps, piano, cello, xylophone and even a contrabass, all guided by Olivia's absolute beautiful high-pitched voice. It's an adorable mixture of more traditional instruments with some tiny electronic elements, vocal harmonies and catchy pop melodies. Really a pretty amazing sound accomplished by, at the end, only two musicians.

It's finally spring, the sun is really shining again, and these are the first days where I can leave my winterjacket at home, with The Dø being the soundtrack. Some early morning sunlight and The Dø even makes solving second order recursive equations in the train during rush hour fun. Both Ways Open Jaws is just an extremely decent album which will probably be loved by those who like their pop music a little bit different.

Spread the love, the sun was shining,

Selwin.