Written by Jeremy Muluka
One year after the release of her long-awaited sophomore album Not For Lack Of Trying, British singer-songwriter dodie follows up with a brand new deluxe version of the record, featuring three new original tracks and four live renditions of songs from the standard album.
Rising to prominence on her YouTube channel in the late 2010s, dodie is well-known for her intimate vocals and equally intimate lyricism, both complemented by the acoustic-pop sound across her early EPs and her 2021 debut album Build A Problem. But after a few years of experimentation with different pop- and jazz-influenced sounds, from her 2022 EP Hot Mess to her supergroup's debut The Secret To Life, this album signifies somewhat of a return to form, seeing the artist reunite with producer Joe Rubel. The album even includes a track written on ukulele, a callback to her YouTube days.
That being said, deluxe tracks "Fruit In The Sun" and "As Far As We Know" place a renewed focus on dodie's ability to manipulate harmony in a way that has remained largely dormant since Build A Problem's “Sorry”. The chords on these tracks are coupled beautifully with playful melodies that meander in unexpected (but not distracting) ways, journeying as dodie guides the listener on a lyrical journey through time and space.
In the live performances, dodie creates an incredibly organic, homely atmosphere that clearly demonstrates how she is surrounded by a supportive group of friends who facilitate creatively fulfilling collaboration, but this synergy unfortunately comes at the expense of the lush soundscapes crafted in the studio versions, and means that some album highlights like “I'M FINE!” and “Hold Fire” appear to have been overlooked in favour of tracks more easily replicable. In spite of this, these reimagined arrangements present something fresh for fans who already attended the album tour, and give a taste of what to anticipate at the intimate clarinet shows that succeed the deluxe version’s release.
All in all, these deluxe tracks form a fitting extension of an album that was a logical progression from its predecessor. It would be interesting, however, to see dodie explore the possibility of a concept record in the future after a decade of projects categorised by the time at which they were written.
You can catch dodie on tour with Cory Wong in North America in February and March. Make sure to follow her on socials to stay up to date on new music and tour announcements.
