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May 27, 2010 Web Exclusive By Kyle Lemmon

The Dø‘s debut LP, A Mouthful, aims for the itches that ‘90s dream-pop scratched, but finds smart, beat-driven hooks along the way. The Paris-based twosome of Finnish expat Olivia Merilahti and French multi-instrumentalist Dan Levy pronounce their name like “glow,” and they do just that in this genre-bending release that justly earned them the bragging rights of being the first English-sung album recorded by a French band to hit #1 on the French charts in the country’s history. This expanded U.S. release contains “chamber versions” of “On My Shoulders” and the Finnish-language cut “Unissasi Laulelet” and a variation on the schoolyard-chanter “Playground Hustle.” All three tracks reveal this young band’s cosmopolitan heart and they aren’t even the best examples of their goofy and light-hearted charms.

Merilahti abandons and embraces journalists’ quick comparisons to The Cardigans’ Nina Persson, Peaches, and Liz Phair on the love-hate pop single, “On My Shoulders.” Amidst a hornet’s nest of violins and feedback, she lays out her relationship woes and vows to keep up the good fight in her delicate-yet-fierce way. The more sober “Searching Gold” and “Song For Lovers” both remind you of Beth Gibbons’ frosty loveliness as Levy churns up a beautifully minimal chamber production. Both the original album and this re-release stumble in the same manner: overwrought genre experiments. The biggest offender is the poppy rap number “Oueen Do Kong.” It’s fun on its own, but feels disjointed from A Mouthful‘s 17 other songs. Also, “Stay (Just a Little Bit More)” revisits ‘90s ska in the most blasé way possible. Though the tinkling cut builds into a emotionally powerful through-line of a woman luring a man back to her bed chamber, the sultriness is largely left in Merilahti’s mind. It’s a series of genres pasted together that don’t properly resonate.

Merilahti’s elfin sexiness runs rampant on the handclapping Brazilian strummer “Tammie” and the Roxy Music-esque freakout-pop of “Travel Light.” On both, she commands your attention while Levy subtly wows from the background. At the end of the day, The Dø live and die by their grab-bag of tricks. Yes, an insightful producer might be handy, but their ability to cut away the fat and lay it on thick is what makes A Mouthful such an eclectic and memorable listen. In any language this would be considered engaging pop. (www.thedo.info)

Author rating: 7/10