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Jan 29, 2015 The Dø By Scott Dransfield

Franco-Finnish duo The Dø approached the recording of their new album Shake Shook Shaken like many modern indie acts do: wanting to streamline their sound, they cut out any acoustic elements in favor of a simplistic palette of synths and drum machines. When executed well, going fully synthetic can be a good move for artists, even if it’s no longer revolutionary. Shake contains several moments that touch on such brilliance, but taken as a whole, the album sounds too one-note and even grating at times.

“Keep Your Lips Sealed,” with its icy synth washes and driving rhythms, gives the album a promising start. The momentum continues with “Trustful Hands,” easily the best song here (and notable for its prominent bass and guitar). It’s clear that vocalist Olivia Merilahti is the best thing going for The Dø; her voice is powerful and beguiling. Her talent is mostly wasted, though, as the album’s highlights (including sparkling lead single “Despair, Hangover and Ecstasy”) simply can’t justify the bland, overdone sound proliferating most of the tracklist. (www.thedomusic.com)

Author rating: 5/10