Since their inception over six years ago, De Novo Dahl has been a prism refracting the brightness, optimism and vitality of rock and roll.  Named after writer Roald Dahl (James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), their eclectic music incites the authorÕs same spirit of creativity and imagination, challenging both themselves and listeners to believe that life is without limits.  

The Nashville based five-piece cites a range of musical influences from Mercury Rev, Air and Jeff Tweedy to the Beach Boys, the Supremes and Stevie Wonder.  The group mostly operates without rules, often layering an explosion of parts to a songÕs skeleton and, with small swipes, deconstructing the creation until they find what works.            

Joel J. Dahl, guitarist and lead singer for De Novo Dahl, compares the making of their new album, Move Every Muscle, Make Every Sound, to the heart-in-your-throat feeling you get before robbing a bank.  

Shortly after their ambitious, double disc debut Cats & Kittens began gaining momentum, three members left the group.  The band was forced to regroup in the studio.  Dahl had written the song "Shakedown" about a down-and-out character poised to pull off a heist with his friends, but says it was symbolic of the band at the time.  

"It's that urgent moment of anxiety or paranoia when you're about to take a risk and put everything on the line," says Dahl.  "If it doesn't work out you could be at quite a loss, but if it does, then things are going to be entirely different."

"Shakedown" was one of several songs intended for DahlÕs funk and R&B inspired side project, which became a starting point for the new lineup.  The group, then stripped down to Dahl, Serai Zaffiro (vocals/omnichord) and Joey Andrews (drums), added Keith Lowen (bass). With several friends filling in on keyboard, they began fleshing out ideas and building compositions in their usual democratic way.  The band unanimously agreed that keyboardist/arranger Matthew Hungate fit the bill, and the team was complete.

Halfway through writing and recording the new album, Dahl says the band recognized a different energy in the music.  

"The mixes were sounding more like a band together in a room rocking out and having fun," he says.  "We were a little more cohesive in our attempt to be wild and crazy.  Rather than reacting to chaos, we were creating a controlled chaos."

The move from five primary singers to just Dahl and Zaffiro (often singing in unison) has made Move Every Muscle, Make Every Sound seem more focused, lending continuity to the album without compromising the band's everything-but-the-kitchen-sink sound.

De Novo Dahl posted three self-produced tracks online, which garnered the attention of Roadrunner Records, a label renowned for their roster of metal bands.  Roadrunner swiftly signed the band, who embody the label's expanding musical scope.   

The relationship was unorthodox, but the label, true to De Novo Dahl's request, secured Grammy-winning sound scientist Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Sparklehorse) and producer Tony Doogan (Belle and Sebastian, Super Furry Animals) to split mixing duties for the 13 tracks co-produced by the band.    

"[Fridmann] only works on good music," says Dahl.  "Once somebody that we respected, a personal hero even, said, 'this is a good record and I'm honored to be a part of it,' we were like 'wow, we really do have something here."
 
The result is a record that fuses experimental pop/rock with the sonic fullness of the Flaming Lips or Arcade Fide.  Twinkling omnichord, keyboards, horns, strings, and guitars are held together by AndrewsÕ (aka Mixta Huxtable) grandiose drums.  Rafter-reaching choruses swell with heart and peak with huge, group vocals.  The songs adhere to strict pop sensibilities a la Big Star or the Replacements, but throw pigeon-holers off the scent with moody musical tangents and nods to several different musical eras.  

The album's opener and first single, 'Shout,' swells with an 'oh-oh-oh' intro spirited enough for a soccer stadium full of bouncing Europeans to chant.   The song is as straightforward and uplifting as they come, announcing that 'life is around you, just stop and let it astound you."

Dahl says he actually wrote the song during a dark moment, trying anything to lift his spirits.  

"Honestly, I was writing that song as a children's song," he says while laughing.  "I wanted it to be like a motivational speaker that comes to your elementary school you know, 'Yeah kids!  You can be what you want to be!  Just believe in yourself!'"  

Other tracks aren't as easily interpreted. "Make Some Sense," a driving Broadway meets Springsteen tune, is a murder mystery told from the perspective of the deceased victim.  He's pleading with his lover to find the reason behind his killing, carried out by his best friend.  If every plot twist isn't followed, the song's porous lyrics leave room for listeners to ply their own imagination.  

Stuck outside with a tricky lock, familiar face with the hammer cocked oh yeah, strange how it's not like they say, truth of the matter burned in my eyes, sad that I never got to say goodbye to you, my love, I watch from above the clouds

Murder and ghosts aside, they insist that their number one priority is to make people dance.  The group is dedicated to showmanship, donning custom, rhinestone-studded suits during live shows.  The outfits were designed by Jaime Castaneda, who honed his cowboy couture craft during the '70s working at Nudie's Rodeo Tailors in Los Angeles.  The legendary shop produced suits worn by Hank Williams, Porter Wagoner, Elvis Presley and even the famous Gram Parsons suit decorated with sparkling marijuana leafs, pills and a cross.

Like Parsons and his Flying Burrito Brothers did in the '70s, De Novo Dahl enters clubs with amps and instruments in hand, juxtaposing the crisp, flashy image with the DIY, rock and roll aesthetic.  Dahl says the band parted with a chunk of their marketing budget for the suits, which have seemed to pay for themselves tenfold.  He jokes that, judging by the response, their wardrobe seems to trump the band's musical ideas.

"I've always been a fan of showmanship," he says.  "Whether it's the Beatles dressed in huge psychedelic marching band outfits, or Peter Gabriel dressing himself as items of fruit during Genesis shows.  We just decided we're from Nashville and it would be nice to show how proud we are of that, and also give a nod to our musical heritage."

De Novo Dahl is a collective of musicians serious about their craft, without being too serious.  They are accessible, yet not easily categorized.  They are indie rock without adhering to hipster standards.  They are a reaction to the inhibitions and self-doubt of mankind.  

Says Dahl of the group's musical philosophy, "We just want people to smile and have a good time, to feel better about life."