dodo give thisthis a listen

Following up their debut album earlier this year, didi returns with Like Memory Foam, featuring eye-catching artwork. It is largely calm and rural-feeling, with occasional instances of unrest, and aside from the first two tracks, it is quite cohesive and similar from track-to-track without being a ten-song playlist of only one tune.

Two factors make didi’s sound a good addition to the ever-growing soundscape enabled by streaming services. Their instrumentals aren’t 10-for-10 on catchiness or emotion-stirring, but they get pretty close. “Moon Jelly” and “It Floods” are prime examples of this, to the point where listeners are more likely to remember the guitar lick than the vocal line. Somewhat beachy, somewhat like trees in autumn, the band members are undoubtedly fans of the outdoors.

In addition to their sensitive instrumentals, the female vocals are game-changing. The first two songs lack them and thus are distant from the remaining eight. They light up “Haru” and add a wonderful drizzle over “Dead Tongues” when singing “tear ‘em out, tear ‘em out.” In the former, the singing is reminiscent of The Cranberries, adding to the countryside sound that’s already semi-present throughout. As pleasant as the female vocals are, they are often difficult to understand, especially in tunes like “Sinking-Floating.” A good addition robbed of being a great one due to the un-intelligibility.

The end of the album sees an excellent pairing of song name and sound, as “Beached” calms the soul and lets the listener fade into the sun-covered beauty of the album artwork. For some, the beach that first comes to mind might be Huntington here in California, or Tybee Island in Georgia or maybe Lake Michigan, but regardless where the sand meets the water, the feeling of true relaxation. Getting lost in the soothing sound of waves is unforgettable and can even revisit while sitting at a desk listening to music.

This album isn’t out to crawl its way up to the top of any list, nor is it trying to change the way music is heard, but it is a relaxing and worthwhile listen. Give this one a spin on one of these last few fall days.