Underneath

Released in 2017, Underneath marks a significant return for Dirk Ivens' solo project, Dive. Following a long hiatus from full-length studio albums, Ivens collaborated with Ivan Iusco and Rafael M. Espinosa to refine the project's signature 'minimalist noise' aesthetic. While earlier Dive material was often characterized by extreme lo-fi harshness, Underneath introduces a slightly more polished, though no less abrasive, production style. The album strips EBM down to its barest essentials: a kick drum, a distorted synth line, and Ivens' unmistakable raspy vocals. It occupies a unique space between the rhythmic noise of the 90s and the modern darkwave revival. Critical reception noted the album's ability to sound timelessly industrial while benefiting from contemporary electronic textures. It stands as a definitive late-career statement, proving that the 'less is more' philosophy remains the most effective way to convey industrial dread.