DIIV - Under the Sun

When introducing ‘Bent (Roi’s Song)’ from his forthcoming second album, Zachary Cole Smith gave a jumbled summary of ‘Is The Is Are’ - a spill of contraditions. He described it as “happysad, sadhappy”, “loudquiet, quietloud, happy, mad,” and “ugly, dry, wet, fuck, fast.” Like falling faint and having no idea of where you’ll land, Cole’s caught up in a headrush. He’s finally putting out an album that’s years in the making, and even if plenty of big questions remain unanswered (those regarding his personal life less so, but those involving his keyboard warrior bandmates more so), he’s ready to make a full statement.

In the same Tumblr post, Cole concludes by saying: “please love it. do you love me? DIIV is the real me.” And if new song ’Under the Sun’ represents anything, it’s a sense of realness. Direct, sky-reaching, open road euphoria is its game, and Cole ties simple emotions together in the group’s signatures - towering bass lines, frenetic drum parts, guitar lines that sound conjoined from the off. If this is a musician reaching out for some kind of redemption, it’ll rarely come clearer. And instead of being a “please love it” plea, it gives an instant fix that can’t be sniffed at. Up there with debut album ‘Oshin’’s finest moments, there’s no questioning that despite tested times and turmoil, Cole’s kept his eyes fixed on the prize.