In many respects Columbus, Ohio's
Didi have achieved everything expected and/or desired of a sophomore record. Their characteristic melodic charm and instrumental fuzzy logic is intact on
Like Memory Foam, but they have also developed a fuller sound and a more coherent message. One of their many strengths is a creative attention to detail, from the billowy guitar licks of "Haru" to the extended melodic undulations of "Sinking/Floating" that echo the title. Elsewhere the beefy bassline of "Circles" underscores the track's otherwise roaming, unpredictable guitar lines (also recalling '90s alt-rock bands like
the Breeders), and the dreamy gait of "Moon Jelly" matches its ponderous lyrical nature. Tumbling percussion cascades around the tale of lost love that is "Heavy Ghosts" and, as on many of the tracks, the lightness of the vocal delivery is often at odds with the depth of meaning generating an engaging tension at the core of the music.
Didi includes members with Colombian, Mexican, Polish, and Japanese lineage and their music deals in their unique perspectives. On "Anzaldúa" Kevin Bilapka Arbelaez sings, “I snuck into your homogenized hegemony and moved shit around/made my way into your sense of insecurity and laid right down to sleep” thus speaking directly to the varied heritage of its members and their infiltration of an otherwise predominantly white genre of music. "Muerde" is sung almost exclusively in Spanish -- save for the chorus, "All I ever wanna hear is what you never wanna say" -- and "Dead Tongues" makes the case for wiping out the old guard and letting new voices be heard, "We're so tired of your dead tongues/I wish you would dare us to tear 'em out." The diverse experience they present on
Like Memory Foam is a welcome variation to the often-limited point of view in indie rock. With shimmering guitars and cymbals, "Beached" concludes a record that has a frequently pointed message delivered in an inventive and beguiling way. ~ Bekki Bemrose