Back sometime in the halcyon ’80, great American poet David Scott Mustaine offered up some prophetic lyrical wisdom in “If there’s a new way / I’ll be the first in line / But it better work this time.” Four decades later, that sentiment burns through our screen-bled retinas as DIIV return with not only a proper SOTY contender in “The Fountain,” but the attached promise accompanying forthcoming album ZIRP!: “This is The New Alternative: A New Genre For the 21st Century.”
We wouldn’t be so intrigued if “The Fountain” wasn’t so captivating, as it finds the Brooklyn indie shoegaze band exploring new sonic territories with the aid of producer A.G. Cook, known for his work as PC Music and efforts with Charli XCX and Caroline Polachek. That guitar-pop rev and classic DIIV haze of yearning is matched by electronic flourishes and glitchy patches, and it shapes one of the more interesting releases from Zachary Cole Smith and the lads.
It’s The New Alternative in action! And fuck it sounds kinda dope.
“The Fountain” sets the tone for ZIRP!, out October 30 on Fantasy Records, and here’s a wider primer from the band via Concord: ““ZIRP! is the new album from DIIV, produced by pop mastermind A.G. Cook. this is not a niche record for music understanders only. this is our POP record. this is our extremely accessible mainstream alternative rock record. what does alternative mean? we are saying, ZIRP! is what it means. are we joking? not really. this record is FUN. everywhere Frog was serious, ZIRP! is fun. it was fun to make, and it is fun to listen to. life is hard. ZIRP! is easy.”
In a year lacking any sort of fun, we’re already lining up.