D2UR – “Fire”

D2UR – “Fire” – Single Review

Not what I was expecting!

And I mean that in a good way.

While I have reviewed Canada’s own D2UR in the past back in 2022, I still don’t know too much about this Winnipeg-based band – so it’s fair to say I didn’t quite know what I’d be in-store for here.  That being said, I’ve certainly seen the word “Fire” pop up in about a million tunes over the years, and almost all of’em in the Hard Rock genre.  It’s a word that puts the fear into me before I push play because I’ve heard it used in such predictable ways time and time again.  So trust me when I tell ya that hearing the saxophone drifting in on the wind as D2UR’s new single began, was a very pleasant and welcome surprise right at the start – this song proves to be unpredictable immediately.  Don’t get me wrong, you’d still end up putting “Fire” in the Rock category, but it’s got so much more flavor and character to it than your usual three chords and four on the floor type stuff – and yes, my ears tend to appreciate that.  I’m certain that yours will too.

Honestly, there’s a lot to love about this single, and precious little to pick on at all!  Like I said, from the get-go, it’s the saxophone that immediately got me curious – but even before that point, you can hear the brilliantly smooth bass from John Colburn really put this track on the right path.  I’ve attempted to track down who it is that’s playin’ the sax for ya…and though I didn’t find that information online, rest assured, it’s an essential ingredient to this song.  In fact, I’d tell ya the sax was like the dude’s rug in The Big Lebowski…it really ties this whole room together, in my opinion.  But there’s a whole lot more to it than that – I think the vocals from Diane Isbister were freakin’ fantastic on this song, and the way that the guitars from David Sikorski-Thorn & Mike Isbister contribute to this single was truly crucial.  You end up listening to this track, and you’ll notice that the music actually possesses quite a comparable sound to something you’d expect to hear from Pink freakin’ Floyd – and how cool is THAT?  The advantage of having a singer like Diane up front is that it morphs the sound of this song just enough that many folks might not even catch onto that Floyd-esque vibe for a spin or two…but believe me when I tell ya, you should be able to understand that comparison from the very moment this song begins by the way the guitar shimmers so gently into the surrounding atmosphere.  Drums from Stephen Broadhurst are on-point…no issues there either.  The mix and production play a significant role here too – “Fire” sounds excellent, and a lot of the reason that’s the case, simply comes down to a wise use of space between the layers of instrumentation.  This is what it sounds like when a band of talented players are all on the same page when it comes to what the mission and the goals are…it’s not about one person determined to take over the spotlight, so much as everyone knowing what they’re doing is contributing to a larger concept.  By executing to the maximum of their abilities as individuals, they shine together, fully unified.

Even the spots where I had assumed I’d probably be picking on D2UR a bit more in a song called “Fire” didn’t end up revealing anything substantial worth complaining about, and more often than not, ended up creating some of the best reasons to listen.  Like, even the use of the word “Fire” itself, is done with a genuine cleverness – “set yourself on fire” was not the line I was expecting, and I honestly love it!  It’s a great line, and it makes for a great hook.  The most you’re gonna find me griping about anything in the lyricism of this single is a tiny reference to flying or whatever…but big deal…I’ll get over it.  That tends to be a bit of an overused thing in music that I point out in some way, shape, or form every second week here on these pages of ours, but it’s used sparingly in this song and really doesn’t even bug me at all.  I think D2UR more that makes up for that by the unpredictable way they chose to use “Fire,” so all is forgiven…fly wherever you like my Canadian friends.  The real bottom line here for me, was that Diane’s performance is so focused and so damn good she could have sang the phonebook, and I’d have listened to her do that, happily.  All-in-all, “Fire” is a real winner for D2UR.  They’ve got you covered from the lefts to the rights with a brilliant mix that genuinely enhances the entire experience and creates that much needed separation for everything to really stand out to our ears as they play, and they’ve got a song that’s written exceptionally well.  You combine that with a performance that speaks volumes on behalf of their professionalism as a band, and it’d be outright stupid for me to complain about anything.

So I won’t!  They’ve got an excellent song on their hands here, and that’s the facts, Jack.  What might make this victory even a little more fun is that it’s in that mid-tempo range that tends to be the killer of all singles, and they completely defy the odds with the results they’ve achieved here.  Sure it’ll confuse the odd person on the dancefloor that doesn’t know if it’s a slow-jam or an upbeat tune as they try to sort out which of their moves they’re supposed to be using…but for those of us out there that listen to music for every other reason, I think we’ll all come to the same conclusion and seriously appreciate the craftsmanship applied to every second of this song.  Always happy to hear some homegrown talent out there exceeding any expectations I could have had – “Fire” has D2UR expertly combining the past with the present, and delivering an authentically engaging experience that fully shows us all just how skillful this band can be at their very best.  Everything that’s played and sung in this song has such purpose and intention behind it…you couldn’t possibly miss it when you listen.  The attention to detail is nothing short of award-worthy; it’s the sound of a band that has put in the work & plays decisively with confidence…and it’s definitely the best I’ve heard from D2UR to-date.

Find out more about D2UR from their official website at:  https://d2ur.net

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