Oshin
The guitars do most of the storytelling on Oshin. They interlock, move melodies past each other and give the music a gently floating quality. The quiet singing sits much further back. DIIV make a debut that relies strongly on atmosphere but has enough rhythmic movement to become more than pleasant background music. The instruments carry its personality.
(Druun) introduces that approach without words. Guitar layers establish the mood while the drums provide clear movement. Past Lives then increases the pace. The difference comes less from a suddenly larger chorus than from the way the instruments encourage each other. The band keep their sound recognisable without allowing everything to settle into complete stillness.
Human draws extra tension from its bass line and short, firm beat. Air Conditioning uses a more persistent repeated movement, with guitars placing their own patterns around it. This rhythmic side matters. It gives the melodies something solid to move against and prevents the gentle sound from losing direction. The playing has more purpose than the distant presentation might initially suggest.
Doused brings the darker side forward. Bass pushes ahead and the guitars sound sharper, yet the song still belongs within the dreamy surroundings. How Long Have You Known works through its easily recognisable melodic appeal. Tracks like these provide clear points to return to inside an otherwise closely connected sound.
The songs do not all have equally distinct characters. Some lighter pieces pass by without leaving a comparable impression, and the recessed singing does not always help. Even so, the record holds together convincingly and the interplay sustains attention. Oshin demonstrates how much an attractive guitar sound and a good rhythm section can say together, even when the voice receives little emphasis.
