What started as a simple home recording project for Zachary Cole Smith- guitarist for lo-fi beach rockers Beach Fossils- has now become one of the most hyped guitar-based projects of 2012. And while the elements of DIIV’s debut Oshin may seem familiar—dreamy guitars, ethereal vocals, and a generous helping of reverb—the end result is anything but generic.
Anyone who has been following DIIV’s progress throughout their extremely short lifespan may recognize a handful of tracks on Oshin right off the bat; previously released singles “Human” and “Sometime” make an appearance here, but have been re-recorded so they sound less like demoes and more like actual studio recordings. This is a good thing, however, because the songs fit in better with the other tracks this way. “Human” especially benefits from this upgrade, and ends up being an album highlight early on. Other more pop oriented tunes such as “How Long Have You Known?” and “Past Lives” give off a more positive vibe and make for very enjoyable listens.
Oshin isn’t just a pop record, however. There are plenty of songs that take on a darker, more abrasive tone, such as “Doused” and “Wait.” But just when you think you’ve got the record pinned, DIIV rips into a track like “Air Conditioning” where the band simply jams out while a steady bass riff guides the song along.
With so many different styles presented in just forty minutes, how does DIIV keep Oshin from feeling scatterbrained? The answer is simple: atmosphere. It doesn’t matter if the band is playing pop songs or something more krautrock inspired, the layers of reverb and Cole’s familiar voice keep the songs sounding just similar enough so that no track feels out of place or alienating. So while Oshin jumps around stylistically quite often, the aesthetic remains 100% constant, which makes listening to the full album in one sitting a very enjoyable experience.
Another often-overlooked piece of the puzzle comes in the form of Cole’s sometimes deceptively simple lyrics. While some songs have the standard amount of lyrics, others such as “Home” and the aforementioned “How Long Have You Known?” have but one or two lines. And while this may seem odd to some, the fact is that Cole’s vocals are so reverb heavy that for the most part the vocals are all but unintelligible. Luckily, the album includes lyrics, so do yourself a favor and check them out. The simple and minimalist lyrics almost come across as mantras, and also keeps the songs incredibly relatable. Take the song “Home” for example, which contains the sole lyric: “You’ll never have a home…until you go home.” There are so many things that those lyrics could say, it makes for a very fun listen as you associate the lyrics to whatever you may be experiencing in your own life.
Oshin is a fantastic listen from start to finish. Aside from the occasional less than spectacular tune (I probably would have been fine without “Earthboy”) and a bit of uneven production here and there, I have no major complaints. The record manages to make a significant splash in indie rock, and creates a sound that is very unique, despite some familiar elements.
8/10
