Toronto-based musician d.oh is on the cutting edge in the electronic genre.

Daniel Oh adopted the stage name d.oh while attending school at the University of Toronto in 2012.  Pulling influences from rock, blues, jazz, and pop artists, d.oh developed his own unique sound that blends the differing production values and adds an electronic undertone. The final result is a lush and organic soundscape and a delicious sampling of music.

In late August, d.oh released his newest effort, the otherworldly A Lukewarm Reception.  The EP displays the talented musician’s unique production aesthetic and delves into his many different influences to create a cohesive sound.

A Lukewarm Reception starts off with the dreamy “There Goes My Heart.”  D.oh’s vocals gently caress a pulsing production, injecting it with a sense of dreaminess as he sings about a sudden attraction. A magical moment ensues as the track moves into its chorus and a saxophone comes in to interplay with the electronic production. The final result feels entirely organic and almost needy as listeners get lost in the intimate track.  As the track comes to a close, you can almost imagine two lovers losing themselves in a passionate embrace.

“Shut Me Down” takes a more soulful, almost blues-oriented approach as d.oh’s vocals soar over the moody production, lush with strings and a drumline.  Vocally, d.oh approaches this track with much more power as he continues to woo his lover.  A series of vocal tracks layer one over another as d.oh harmonizes with himself on the chorus, but his vocal track on the verses approaches the lyrics with a direct sense of power.

Things take a turn towards the unexpected as A Lukewarm Reception moves into its sole collaboration, “49.”  On the track, d.oh is joined by Macon Hamilton and Adam Noble-Marks, who inject the track with a different approach.  Starting off with a piano introduction, the track rapidly descends into a slightly unhinged production as it moves into the first chorus.  Distorted vocals screech across the soundscape, adding an otherworldly and slightly tense feeling to the track.  D.oh doesn’t provide much in the way of vocals throughout the track, instead allowing Macon Hamilton and Adam Noble-Marks to rap and sing over the dramatic instrumental.

D.oh closes out the release with the atmospheric and encapsulating “Scaring the Child.”  Starting out with an acoustic introduction, a subtle whispering and whistling production build underneath d.oh’s performance, adding a sense of intimacy to the track.  Thematically, the track is the darkest of A Lukewarm Reception, but it is as entrancing as the others on the compilation. D.oh delivers his own rap as he moves into an extended bridge on the track, which eventually breaks down before the track evolves once again into a fuzzy and horrifying breakdown.  You can physically feel the music assaulting you as it evolves across the track, proving once again that d.oh is truly a creative force to be reckoned with in the musical field.

A Lukewarm Reception is a strong and varied offering from the talented musician.  D.oh’s ability to create musical atmospheres is truly commendable, and each track exudes a different but powerful mood.  Whether d.oh is singing of love at first sight, a slow seduction, or of darker endings, each track grows in power. Each listen unlocks a new layer to the music, creating a sense that the music is eternally changing and evolving as you listen to it.  The final result is a luscious and impressive collection that will have you listening with awe time and again.

This is truly a release that deserves anything but a lukewarm reception!

If you want to keep up to date on future projects from d.oh, be sure to follow him on his various social media accounts.  He can be found at his official website, Facebook, Twitter, BandCamp, and SoundCloud.  

Also, grab a free download of A Lukewarm Reception HERE!