New York, USA-based psychedelic electronica act Deep Dive Species have been laying breadcrumbs to their new album Habitat for some time now, and we’ve been greedily lapping up each morsal. Now, the album is out and I couldn’t wait to get stuck into it.
By Graeme Smith
Adventus, Unconditional, and Penultimate are all singles from the album that we’ve featured on these pages, but it turns out they are merely a small part of the whole. Habitat is a lengthy album building in ambition from Deep Dive Species’ debut Aquaphilia. It’s surprising given that the album was never originally planned, with the band simply looking for a way to release some tracks that didn’t make the cut for their debut.
The idea of releasing an EP eventually grew and grew until it became Habitat. The resulting album is one that feels beautifully coherent, telling an atmospheric story right from its gentle, ambient opening title track to its contemplative closer Back to Elsinore.
Musically we are treated to a mix of electronica, jazz, and post-rock. Acoustic elements give it a sense of earthiness while expansive layers hint at worlds beyond our reckoning. Adventus is an early highlight thanks to its echoing guitars and Seventy 7 contrasts it nicely with a playful yet mysterious arrangement.
Elsewhere Triple Peaks is a brooding tribute to David Lynch. Afraid Of Our Kind is a textured wonder. Always Stay With Me No More is tense and moody, and Penultimate provides a late album highlight with its glitchy, string-infused lo-fi sentiments.
As if it was needed, Habitat is an album that cements our love for Deep Dive Species. They are an act truly forging their own path in the world of music, and aren’t afraid to mix things up with this self-assured new collection. If you’re looking to be taken on a sonic journey today, look no futher.
Deep Dive Species are electronic producer Vadim Militsin and guitarist Sergiy Popovich. The pair draw inspiration from the likes of Angelo Badalamenti and Tame Impala and have been making music together since 2020’s coronavirus lockdown.
Habitat is out now and you can check it out below.
