On their fourth album, Frog in Boiling Water, DIIV expand upon their grand, hypnotic style of shoegaze to craft a truly transportive and sensual work.
Four years in the making, Frog in Boiling Water, DIIV's fourth full-length LP, examines the harsh realities of end-stage capitalism and the relentless march of technological advancement. DIIV, pronounced "Dive," crafted this album as a series of snapshots, each capturing a different facet of these overwhelming themes.
The journey to create this album was anything but smooth. The process was fraught with uncertainty and challenges, pushing the band to new heights of musicianship while straining their resources and relationships. Over the past decade, the band played a pivotal role in reviving dream-pop and shoegaze, a legacy cemented by their 2019 album, Deceiver. However, after Deceiver, DIIV found themselves without a record contract, free agents who owed nothing to anyone but themselves. This newfound independence allowed them to create an album that pushed their boundaries and redefined their sound.
Frog in Boiling Water balances intricate rhythms inspired by breakbeats and post-industrial power with ethereal guitars and vocals, resulting in a sound that is both powerful and delicate, dark yet luminous. Tracks like "Reflected" navigate through gentle soundscapes, confronting the lies we tell ourselves for survival and questioning their continued utility. Meanwhile, "Brown Paper Bag" channels feelings of dejection and angst into a beautiful fusion of dream-pop and post-rock, blending airy melodies with a strong foundation. Despite helping to shape a thriving shoegaze scene, DIIV has managed to rise above it, creating music that is introspective and forward-looking.
At its core, Frog in Boiling Water is about resilience - about persevering through grim circumstances and envisioning a future even when the present feels like slowly heating water. Throughout the making of this album, the members of DIIV - Andrew Bailey, Colin Caulfield, Ben Newman, and Zachary Cole Smith - tested their bonds and brotherhood, pushing themselves to the brink. The result is a mesmerizing album album to be celebrated by fans and the shoegaze community at large.