Deep Sea Diver - Stop Pretending
DEEP SEA DIVER
Rife with raw, highflier potency, Deep Sea Diver’s impressive, nearly experimental, but not quite, recent releases surge with sonic muscle from every direction, encompassing swashbuckling colors and larger-than-life emotion.
Deep Sea Diver
Deep Sea Diver is Jessica Dobson, Peter Mansen, Garrett Gue, and Elliot Jackson. Speaking to “Stop Pretending,” the band explains, “We recorded this song, ‘Stop Pretending,” this week, as we were continuing to stay at home. The song was written using a collaboration exercise that we had given to our fans as an outlet to create and find connection in a time of duress and isolation (we called it the Stay Home Stems series) —and it ended up also working for us— this song was written, recorded, mixed and mastered in two days at our house, and this what we have to show for it.”
The track opens on gleaming visceral-tinge colors accented by a buzz-saw guitar, exuding down and dirty tones. The stop-go austerity of the percussion gives the rhythm an avant-garde feel, while Jessica’s high, dominating tones glide on edges overhead. As voices go, hers is exquisitely textured, as well as displaying facets of diamond-like timbres of poignancy.
“This life is dangerous / There's no need to build those walls / Our love is all we have / Who knows where we're heading / I don't know where we're heading / Honey I don't pretend to understand / Why everything's falling apart.”
The track features vocals by Jessica and Natalie Schepman of the band Joseph.
One month later, to the day, Deep Sea Diver released a second version (totally reworked) of “Stop Pretending.”
Jessica shares, “I wanted to gather up all of the John Brion/Elliott Smith influence I had and write something that sounded like it could have been in the Magnolia soundtrack. I love the warmth of orchestral instruments, especially mellotrons and vibraphones. Hopefully, someday I’ll get to record this with a real orchestra.”
The alternate version rides strident harmonics, oozing with bright resonance, as Jessica’s voice fills the spaces above the on-the-brink-of-shrill sonic colors. A fat, vibrating bassline and tight drums provide the rhythm, supporting the rococo melody.
Previous to “Stop Pretending,” the band released their cover of Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me” to commemorate International Women’s Day. The track features vocals by Jessica and Natalie Schepman of the band Joseph.
Where the original version delivers across-the-board ‘60s pop savors, glowing and blown up, Deep Sea Diver’s cover travels on piercing keyboards flowing into yummy orchestral textures chock-full of ‘60s sensibility surging with lustrous backing harmonies offsetting the superb lead vocals.
Deep Sea Diver exposes their innovative sonic creativity on all three tracks, with the icing on the cake being Jessica Dobson’s inimitable voice.
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