Raw and Melodic
Gainesville four piece Dikembe add in layers of indie, a touch of emo and a punchy punk edge to their sound so that what you get is an album that's full of energy and infectious melodies and also hugely addictive.
The album has a rough around the edges feel (in a good way), giving the sound an exposed and vulnerable edge - all raw scuzzy guitars and the occasional blast of distortion, but this is all laid over with a sweetness from the great melodies and emotion-filled vocal delivery; Steven Gray sounds, like the production, vulnerable yet assured and he makes the tracks on Broad Shoulders feel very honest and real. It's one of many qualities on the album which keep you coming back for more.
Opener Nothing. Stuff is a slow burner, starting slowly and feeling like an intro, the track eases you in with a gentle guitar based melody, the vocals floating somewhere in the background. It immediately piques your interest and as you move into the second track Apology Not Fucking Accepted which immediately opens up the band's sound and reveals their anthemic and raw heart you are quickly hooked - this tune has you bopping about in no time and has a sing along tune you remember. It's just one of many catchy tunes on the record, but Dikembe aren't just about melodic, they also treat you to plenty of playful guitar work - the smart interplay on tracks like Not Today, Angel along with some nicely quirky song structures adding an extra layer of interest.
Overall the album has a very assured easy sound from the effortless sounding melodies; the appropriately unfussy production, more adventurous guitar work and changes of tempo and rhythm make it a keeper and one we're sure to be coming back to many times.