The Thousands

There are two shows from local five-piece Doe that stand out in my mind as two of the best live performances I have seen in this city – local acts or otherwise. And on reflection, the two performances were nothing alike, highlighting one of Doe’s biggest strengths.

This EP, released a little while back, is no exception, oscillating with ease from jagged rhythms (‘Discriminating Chewers’) to the endless repetition of a 4/4 beat (‘OUI!’), from jazz-clean guitar patterns to assaulting noise (read: last track, ‘Dog Learns English’).

While their influences appear worn on Doe’s proverbial sleeve, with multiple listens these tracks become harder and harder to pin down. While innovation and originality are oft-pursued white whales for musicians, Doe have created a unique sonic landscape which draws on a variety of tones, rhythms and melodies resulting in an innovative EP and quite frankly, a real accomplishment.

I imagine that managing five members in a band like Doe would be almost nothing short of impossible. However, a credit to the evident ability of these guys, the structural cohesion of these songs is flawless and definitely unmatched on a local scale at the very least.