Out of tragedy comes Doma's incredible self-titled album.

Doma

Doma

Poclanos, 2021.

9.5

Review by Jamie Finn (@jamiefinn2209)

Out of tragedy, great art often emanates. This has never been truer than on the sublime new album by indie band Doma.

With the release of their debut EP, 0.5, in 2015, Doma quickly became one of the most exciting names on Korea's indie scene. A wave of positive reviews and award nominations followed them through to the release of their first full-length album, 2017's Drifting To An Island For Reason I Don't Know. The album was a critical smash, and the band received universal acclaim for their wispy and ethereal style of folky indie.

The sky was the limit for this band, and 2021 looked set to be a breakout year for Doma. On March 17th, lead-singer Kim Doma shared that they were busy working on their new album, much to the excitement of their fans. Tragedy struck, however, and just five days after sharing that news, bandmate Geonu revealed that, at the age of 28, Kim Doma had sadly passed away. 

In mid-December, Geonu shared an emotional letter on social media. In it, he talked about what Kim Doma had meant to him and the effect that her loss was having on those that knew her best. He painted a picture of her as a joyous and open-hearted person who had meant so much to so many people. He also confirmed that he had finished working on the album that he had started with his dear friend. 

The result is Doma, a gorgeously melancholic final chapter in this band's brief but potent legacy.

When listening to Doma, it is difficult to escape the heartbreaking context that the album exists in, but this is often to the music's credit. Doma instils reflections about life and death, about love, loss, and grief in the listener, but not just because of its story. The composition is powerful and resoundingly touching. Intricate and precise enough to feel deeply personal while sweeping enough to effectively tackle profound, universal themes. 

The album has a thicker texture than long-time Doma fans might be used to. While their trademark simplicity is present throughout, the sound of Doma is undeniably bigger with drums, bass and synth featuring on many of the tracks. In many ways, this album shares an affinity with Elliott Smith’s Basement On The Hill; a posthumously released album that gives a lost folk talent a bigger, more polished sound.

Picking a highlight from this album is difficult as it is an incredibly tight and consistent collection. With that said, album closer Winter Ballad (Gunwoo version) really delivers the album’s story. In this song, Kim Doma duets with her bandmate in a way that is both devastating and cathartic.

At the tender heart of this release is Kim Doma's astounding voice. The surface-level calm delivery of her singing belies a delicate performance full of nuanced emotion. This calmness adds real weight to the vocals, and Kim Doma demonstrates that she was an artist who understood deeply that less could often really be much more. Few indie singers can deliver touching sincerity as Kim Doma has on this record.

This album will offer a perfect sense of closure for Kim Doma's fans and is a fitting tribute to the much-beloved singer.