SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DAFFO – WHERE THE EARTH BENDS

DAFFO
WHERE THE EARTH BENDS
CONCORD RECORDS

Daffo’s debut record, Where the Earth Bends, is a 12-song project full of quippy, fully charged anthems. Following in the footsteps of their viral hits from 2023’s Pest EP, Los Angeles-based Gabi Gamberg brings a sharp edge to their confessional lyrics. This time, heavily distorted guitars mark a shift towards the grungier side. Gamberg’s voice slides through the album with an enchanting friction, uniting even its softest moments with its most intense ones.

Where the Earth Bends starts out scorching. There is no shortage of single-worthy material here, but “Habit” might be one of the most infectious tracks. Its one-word hook is dominated by a vocal run that’s bound to get stuck in your head. Daffo’s occasional self-deprecation is anything but insular. Natural metaphors and clever one-liners spin the focus back towards their fraught relationship dynamics. “When I’m In Hell” is one of many tracks that accomplishes just this, with a twinge of satisfying irony.

While dog references have become somewhat of a ubiquity in indie-rock, “Bad Dog” and “Go Fetch” tackle this subject matter with a gripping contrast. The former is enigmatic, and the most folk-influenced song on the record. The latter is brimming with straightforward angst. This subversion of clichés can be seen even more clearly on track 7, where Gamberg sings of how, “Absence makes the heart grow/Fickle and forgetful.” The record’s bitterness is layered and takes on many forms.

“Unveiling” is Daffo at their most honest and vulnerable. Beginning with a reference to the Jersey slide (if you know you know), they show how reckless driving can be a symptom of familial grief. The song’s emotion rises beautifully alongside the pitch of Gamberg’s voice, accompanied by subtle violins. It’s surprising that there is not more violin on the album, given its significant presence in Daffo’s roots. The culminating track “Where the Earth Bends” is deeply personal, albeit brief. It opens a sonic page that is yet to be closed by the album’s end. But perhaps we are meant to be left in a state of unanswered questions.

Daffo has garnered several opening tour slots throughout this album cycle, for artists like Annie DiRusso, Blondshell, and now Wednesday. Exactly a year after the lead single’s release, Where the Earth Bends leaves a strong impression, solidifying Daffo’s position as a rising star.

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