Divine Fits

Last spring Britt Daniel of Spoon, Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade and Sam Brown of New Bomb Turks teamed up to form Divine Fits. Lots of critics have been going back and forth talking about whether or not this is a ‘supergroup’ but, if it’s all right, I’m happy to skip that part. Supergroup or not, they’re damn good musicians and the Los Angeles-via-Montreal electronic-rock group already has a solid debut album to show for it.

It’s difficult to peg the trio’s record to any particular zip code within the ever-expanding ‘indie’ territory, but A Thing Called Divine Fits isn’t hampered by its genrelessness. Parts punk, synth rock, pop and garage rock, the album never switches jarringly between styles. Chilly synth-pop beats make their first of many appearances in “My Love Is Real.” The song’s lyrics are bipolar—they switch quickly from heartfelt love song tropes to harsh take-backs—and other tracks are equally topsy-turvy. This cut has New Bomb Turks plastered all over it, but that’s what’s nice about the album: it isn’t terribly difficult to pick out each band member’s creative contribution. The tracks have a unified sound, but each member gets to make his own appearance.

The synth returns in “For Your Heart,” but this time with angst, coupled with Daniel’s scratchy vocals. When the repetitive electronica becomes over-the-top, intricate acoustic drum beats break through the beeps-and-lasers atmosphere.

“Like Ice Cream” takes a much-needed break from the synthesizer with garage-esque guitar and drums, a fuzzy bass and raw vocals. Subtle tambourine and cymbals neatly blend with the percussion ensemble to produce a playful, summery tone. The lyrics are just as warm: “I coulda took all summer/ she waited for me like ice cream.”

Acoustic guitar and unfiltered piano take center stage in “Civilian Stripes,” which moves even farther away from the electronic elements featured throughout the record. Dialing down the jittery electronica, the song puts the album to bed: Daniel and Boeckner’s tender vocals complement each other smoothly without overwhelming the track’s quiet instrumentals.

According to Divine Fits’ blog, A Thing Called Divine Fits covers “death of true love, hitchhiking, cocoa butter, emotional distance, what happens when the curtain drops and Minneapolis, MN.” Though most of those references, if they were even there, went over my head, the music holds enough meaning on its own. The record falls short of bringing an entirely new sound to the table—at times it sounds like an album from Cut Copy or Caribou—but that never makes it feel any less substantial. A focused punk-electronic blend, A Thing Called Divine Fits breathes fresh air into Merge’s indie rock lineup.