Photo by Chloe Aftel
Just over a year ago, the Dodos were mourning a lost friend with an album that brimmed with emotion and catharsis. For Individ (out January 27), singer/guitarist Meric Long wanted to capture “what it sounds like inside the tornado,” referencing his previous album’s art while also hinting at the back-to-basics approach. Simplicity has always been key for the San Francisco duo. Since their 2008 breakthrough Visiter, the Dodos have crafted orchestral music without actually using an orchestra. Guitar and drums blur the lines between melody and rhythm, often sounding like some sort of breathing organism. On “Competition,” Long’s guitar slashes against Logan Kroeber’s pounding, in competition and concert with one another, over and over.
–Art Levy