Album Review – DMA’s – For Now
If you haven’t heard of DMA’s, then it won’t be long before you have. Their sophomore album “For Now” is set to be released on the 27th April and it is a record that is going to capture you almost immediately.
The Sydney based trio have drawn references such as the Australian Oasis, and yes their music has a feel that does throwback to that early 90s Manchurian sound, but there are so many dimensions overlooked in my opinion. In fact, labelling them as sounding like Oasis is so far from the truth. If you delve a little deeper into the band’s history, it turns out that their most significant influence is Bruce Springsteen.
DMA’s debut album “Hill’s End” was released in 2016 with a mix of reviews, in fact, I have to say that although it was one of my highly anticipated records of that year, it let me down slightly. I came across the band after surfing Spotify looking for bands that sounded like Dexters and iC1s (both of which no longer exist) and their track “Lay Down” ended up on repeat as well as a massive venue track in my DJ sets. I wanted the full album to hit me in a similar way to that single, but it tended to meander, rather than smack you in the face.
Two years on and this is not the case with their new album. Produced by the band alongside Kim Moyes of The Presets we have an uplifting sound that delivers the kick that the debut lacked at times.
It opens with the title track and latest single For Now which provides even more evidence that the band have more to them than being the Australian Oasis. What it does have is a certain familiarity, a hint of The Smiths with a touch of The Stone Roses, a sound that was distinctively the mid-90s to the mid-00s, in essence, the music of my generation.
Dawning, Warsaw, Lazy Love and Break Me all feel like tracks with an intention to get you singing and dancing. They feel like indie anthems, and you can hear hints of The La’s and Cast with a delightful blend of The Cure alongside more recent music from bands like The Kooks (who they recently toured with). Interestingly enough, the more that I listen to the record the floor filler tracks, although fantastic, don’t hold my attention as much as the ballads. The sweeping melodies of In The Air together with the 80s electro meets psychedelic feel of The End seems to stick out in my mind. Tape Deck Sick is potentially my favourite track on the album it has a timeless alternative feel to it, an almost shoegaze/dream pop anthem in the making.
The playout track Emily Whyte is probably the first time that you hear the Oasis influence, intertwined with psychedelic 60s bands, and it is a compelling way to close the album. It makes you want to put it on that second time, and third time.
The blend of floor fillers and ballads works on this album. There are raw rock and roll elements throughout, but it is more than just about the indie anthems. DMA’s draw on influences from the Britpop era (why wouldn’t they? It is one of the best periods of music) but For Now, shows evolution to the bands sounds ultimately displaying confidence that wasn’t there on the first record. For me, it feels like they are paying homage to some of the most significant music that came before them while creating something unique. It is an album filled with timeless indie anthems that leaves you wanting more.
DMA’s are touring throughout May and will be at the O2 Institute on Friday 25th May, and I (Birmingham Live) cannot wait to see what their live set will bring.
Reviewer: Imran Khan