The final track from Ditz’s second album, ‘Never Exhale,’ offers a post-rock experience that is truly worth exploring: The intense riffs and ambiance of “Britney” showcase the English band's journey into their own capabilities.
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Listen to: “britney” – DITZ
There is an abundance of English artists currently producing captivating and atmospheric rock music. Ditz has tapped into something unique with their sophomore album, Never Exhale. The title hints at the feeling present in the 31 minutes leading up to its peak moment. Ditz glides through post-hardcore, post-punk, and hard rock, consistently delivering unexpected elements with each listen. Synths permeate these tracks as though they are apart from the rest of the band. The lyrics bombard you with themes of paranoia, frustration, anger, and spoken word revelations. The entire experience is a 31-minute struggle, with riffs swirling in your mind, instrumentals coming and going at will, and lyrics maneuvering around you as if you were weightless. Much of it feels like a continuous battle with conflicting melodies, yet there’s a unique pleasure when this dissonance becomes familiar.
Never Exhale – DITZ
Your reward for completing this journey is a 7-minute post-rock epic titled “britney.” Starting with muted, soft chords, you are gently welcomed into the concluding phase of this relentless experience. Lyricist C.A. Francis extends that invitation, almost whispering the initial lines. Within less than a minute, upstroke guitars signal impending change. This opening offers the first and only respite in the entire experience, clearly revealing it as the last. The delicate foundation upon which the whole album is constructed begins to disintegrate. C.A. Francis enters a trance about halfway through:
“You’re a lot like your father
he’s a little man too
he’s got a bright red nose and
he guides his eyes up the
length of my thighs”
DITZ © Pedro Takahashi
It’s happening. This is your final warning before the album implodes and “britney” ultimately pulls the ground from beneath you.
Francis recounts tales about changing seasons, families, and the perils of personal relationships before repeatedly stating,
“we build and we build and we build.
we build and we build and we build.
we build and we build and we build.
we build and we build and we build.”
Ditz shines when they create atmospheric rock accompanied by overwhelming heavy guitars. Nothing in this track diminishes that assertion, but until the climactic moment, the guitars mostly serve as a transitional element for C.A. Francis to weave through. That changes at the song's apex. Rhythmic and melodic riffs finally welcome the rest of the band back in. By this point, it’s already too late. “britney” finally yanks away the platform you’ve been standing on and leads you into the intense breakdown you’ve longed for throughout the album – a cathartic release and the first clean breath of the entire experience.
It represents the culmination of all the struggle, feeling suffocated by Ditz’s atmospheric sound. It embodies the release of all the anger aimed at corporations commodifying queer culture for profit. It signifies a decade of practice in the back rooms of cafés. It also provides insight into what Ditz embodies and can become, as leaders within the contemporary post-rock scene, delivering intense breakdowns and emotionally rich narratives.
DITZ © Pedro Takahashi
There’s a lot to grasp in a track like this – C.A. Francis’ vocal delivery, the atmosphere, guitars twisted into unusual sounds, the breakdown, captivating melodies, the trance-like synths, and the dissonant lyrical expression. Unlike Ditz’s other songs, there isn't a traditional chorus here; instead, familial comfort must be sought within the twisted instrumentals. It’s an expedition, a journey, and hopefully a glimpse into the potential of the Brighton, UK-based group.
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Listen to: “britney” – DITZ
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The final track from Ditz's second album, 'Never Exhale,' is a post-rock exploration that is worth experiencing: The demanding riffs and ambiance of “Britney” showcase the English band as they broaden and delve into their own capabilities.