Music Review of A Mouthful by The Do

“The Do” are a French two-piece or duo indiedistant shout in the background. Once the right tempo
band based in Paris. The Do were formed in 2007 andis reached, a number of instruments just come in.
they are Dan Levy (Musician) and Olivia MerilahtiGuitar, bass, drums and handclaps can be heard as
(Vocals). Their music covers a wide variety of genresOlivia sings. In each phrase of the verse, Olivia sings
that include indie rock, indie pop, folk rock and a bit ofand drags the last word until she reaches a part
electronic stuffs.where she loops, “Oh i know you won’t…”
A Mouthful has an album appetizer that everyone ofThe bass in this track is very groovy and some might
us will definitely give at least a thumb-up to it. Inhave it catchy as well. At some points, the word
“Playground Hustle”, a group of children cover“Tammie” can be heard in the background,
most of the singing part while Olivia just adds in someshouted by a number of guys. Saxaphone can also be
extra weights here and there. The music in this track isfound here as the song draws to a close. Cool stuff
exceptional as well. The flute on Playground Hustleby The Do/Dø!
reminds me of my younger days when i had to learn“Queen Dot Kong” features a heavy usage of
flute-playing in school. The music which is mainlysynthesizers. It also has saxophone and trumpet at
contributed by synthesizers also creates a very goodsome parts of the track. After a few listens, this song
opener impression here. Love the cheeky part where itsounds like a theme song for a cartoon show. It’s
almost sounds like the movie “Jaw” theme.very cute yet weird with those sudden change of
“At Last!” is groovy indie pop tune whichmusic notes and tones. Even the vocals vary as well,
showcases the Olivia’s vocals. She seems to besometimes it’s fast, sometimes it’s slow. Olivia
singing breathlessly and without taking a jiffy just toalso raps at times, which i find kind of cute to imagine
inhale. The tempo on this track is very consistent andher doing so. The Do/Dø are definitely loosing
The Do/Dø also bring in some extra sound or note tothemselves here.
make it much fuller. But just by listening to Olivia’s“Coda” is an instrumental track and it continues
angelic voice, it’s more than sufficient to fall in lovefrom Queen Dot Kong. It sort of acts as the final part
with this track. After the second chorus, “Made upof the song and helps the song to end. The Do/Dø
my mind now it’s time settle down, but don’tcan be heard playing with the synthesizer and mixer
hold this against me I gotta run now…” The shorthere. A break for The Do/Dø perhaps.
bridge contains some clever guitar playing and“Searching Gold” is the longest track on A
country-like harmonica layered with Olivia’s melodicMouthful and it spins over 5 minutes long. It has some
voice. It’s just beautiful! At Last!dark and evil elements to it as Olivia sings in a way
“On My Shoulders” continues the amazingthat doesn’t reflect her usual voice that we first
rhythm and sound of The Do/Dø. On My Shouldersheard. Take it from the title, everyone has himself or
has quite a long opening before emerging withherself on mind when it comes to gold and will do
Olivia’s beautiful voice. As Olivia sings on in thewhatever it takes to get their hands on gold. Maybe
verse, it sort of drags me along and thus creating ait’s one of the clues that we have that might helps
tendency for me to sing. “Why would I carry suchus explain Olivia’s voice here. The music in
a weight on my shoulders? Why do I always help youSearching Gold is pretty flat here and i like the ending
carry your boulders? You wonder why I carry such alyrics that goes, “As the horizon cleared, we let go
weight on my shoulders?…” Although On Myof our hands, each one hurried to be the first where
Shoulders is sung in a repetition of musical note andgold flows out, oh silent rejoicing when one of us
tone, but The Do/Dø make it really unforgettable. Thestumbled, oh silent rejoicing when one of us
rhythm just keeps playing in my head now, and it’sfailed…” Sort of sarcastic by The Do/Dø here!
stuck in my head!“When Was I Last Home?” is a slow track that
“Song For Lovers” is an acoustic track with onlyhas piano as its main instrument. Olivia just sings with
Olivia’s voice can be heard and in the background,her heart and let it taken away by the music. This time
guitar plays along before another string instrument violinaround, Olivia is proving how versatile she is by
appears. In the end, Olivia sings with emotion,showcasing her beautiful voice on this somewhat sad
“Here’s a song for lovers who don’t care iftrack. Deeper into the track, there are some
they bleed…” An honest and heartfelt track bybackground vocals and violin also can be heard helping
The Do/Dø!Olivia out. The Do/Dø are showing an emotional side
“The Bridge Is Broken” has little guitar steps inof them. Great effort anyway!
the beginning. Once Olivia enters, it sets the right tone“Travel Light” starts off with some lazy and
and rhythm that follow suit. After the verse, Olivia justdraggy vocals by Olivia. Even the music sounds the
repeats “The bridge is broken…” and while shesame here, it just feels lazily good. However when it
is singing the chorus, the deep guitar plucking nevercomes to the chorus, Olivia sounds lighter in her voice
stops. It just weights in after the Olivia’s voice.and goes, “Lately I’ve been walking away,
Very, very nice to hear! At times, the music showsfloating like a song in the air… Lately, I’ve been
some Jazzy side of it. In the bridge, the music comes intrailing away, I’ve been walking my way…” And
with more variety. The mixing of The Bridge Is Brokenwhen back into the verse, everything is back to what
really good, and the use of synthesizers and otherwe first heard in the first verse. Another slow track
equipments just prove to be amazing! I don’t carehere, which i think The Do/Dø are not that good at
whether the bridge is broken or whatever, as long asdoing this. The Do/Dø are way much better when
The Do/Dø are here to sing, the bridge is alwaysdoing a fast track. They’re born to do that!
fixed.“Aha” definitely brings the tempo back here.
“Stay (Just A Little Bit More)” is cheeky andOnce the music starts, i know this song is going to rev
catchy. Just the perfect song for couples anywhere inup the album again. As Olivia sings, “It came up on a
the world. You have to check out the guitar once itday I was having a nap, it came up on a day I was
starts, it is on a constant plucking mode and never failscatching the gnats, it was a trap…. Aha, Aha,
to create an atmosphere that one would expect whenAha….” You can hear a group of guys in the
picnicking at the beach. Once the chorus comes, Oliviabackground helping Olivia out. Slowly when it gets to
just goes, “Stay just a little bit more, don’t let mythe chorus, the guitar sounds like a plucking from a
heart turn sore…” and with each phrase, thereJames Bond theme. The bass throughout this track is
would be howlings in the background that justoutstanding as well, it just has the groove to liven up
complement this track so much! Entering the secondthe track. The bridge also has its moment, where a
verse, the whole track seems to be venturing into agroup of female vocals can be heard belting it out with
new zone and it sounds cuter than ever. During theOlivia. The bottomline is that Olivia is back with her
bridge, violin is heard and joins the fun with The Doangelic vocals! Love it!
Dø. Stay (Just A Little Bit More) just sounds good“In My Box” is an instrumental track that has a
from start to finish!steady beginning before picking up the tempo and
On “Unissasi Laulelet”, if i’m not mistaken,hitting it high as the song draws to an end. It sounds like
it’s a track sung in Finnish by Olivia. As Olivia singsan African-influenced music at first and then when the
on, it seems that there are some background vocalsbass line comes in, it just gets groovy. Olivia is not
that sing simultaneously with Olivia. Further into thecalling it a day yet as she also contributes a bit with
track, the music just get fuller and louder. Even theher voice. She sort of yells here though. Pretty cool
vocals got louder and slightly subside before ending.ending by The Do/Dø!
Quite funny when listening to a foreign language. ButCheers!
it’s still good.Darren Tan
“Tammie” starts off with harmonica and someIndiesurf.