“Confidence”, the first glimpse of The Dodos upcoming album, Carrier, is a uniquely structured track. Driving, acoustic guitar melds with strong vocals and a steadfast drum beat to create a march-like mood. As usual, The Dodos’ smooth, fluid-like vocals are clear, resonant, and supplement the guitar line impeccably. While the first half of this song is extremely pleasant and brilliantly simple, things start to become really fun and interesting as the song continues — the electric guitar riff becomes the focal point of the track, the tempo increases dramatically, and various layers of electric guitar join the original in an ecstatic build that lasts for the remainder of the track.
Given such expansive and lush guitar layering, you’d never know that The Dodos is only composed of two dudes. Their performance on “Confidence” is certainly no exception. As on previous records, guitar looping is utilized to build the anticipation, atmosphere, and rage before the duo abruptly stop on a dime. The strategic blend of acoustic and electric elements within such a jubilant and coherent track make this a memorable first single and an excellent introduction to Carrier.
