Maybe it’s just me, maybe it’s inaccurate searching, or maybe its the fault of the band but I can find precious little background information for the Dublin-based Longjaw at the release of their debut electronic/shoegaze LP …like a dog. Their Bandcamp page, where the entire album can be downloaded free of charge, seems to be the only presence the band hold on the net. That, I must say, is a serious shame because …like a dog is such an evocative release that shows a lot of potential and the band need to do a bit more to get it out there.
The album holds such a strong groove at the outset. The opening duo of …the world screamed and Frankie’s Song place the album firmly in the electronic/dubstep category with distorted and melodic vocal tracks, combining with tight drum sampling. From the third track however, the album then seems to taper off slightly. The vocal quality falters, as does the instrumentation, and the album eventually becomes balanced between it’s flawless and dodgy elements. The tracks New Year and fake Emo Ghost are good examples of the this duality. Similarly, the closing tracks, (trashed in) Paradise and Ghostworld, suffer from some serious tempo and vocal issues.
The production of the album is decidely lo-fi and that seems to be an intentional move by the band. The record, like the artwork that accompanies it, hovers between childish and charming, and I can’t quite decide which it is. The music is laid back and chilled, and the production mirrors that, adding to the atmosphere of the LP. The style of the art and production do give a sense of the album and this can hardly be seen as a negative aspect of the band but I feel the quality issues need to be addressed for them to progress.
That said, Longjaw show a lot of potential for their genre and …like a dog is a very good first step. I look forward to hearing where they go next.
Drop-D Rating: 5/10
The album holds such a strong groove at the outset. The opening duo of …the world screamed and Frankie’s Song place the album firmly in the electronic/dubstep category with distorted and melodic vocal tracks, combining with tight drum sampling. From the third track however, the album then seems to taper off slightly. The vocal quality falters, as does the instrumentation, and the album eventually becomes balanced between it’s flawless and dodgy elements. The tracks New Year and fake Emo Ghost are good examples of the this duality. Similarly, the closing tracks, (trashed in) Paradise and Ghostworld, suffer from some serious tempo and vocal issues.
The production of the album is decidely lo-fi and that seems to be an intentional move by the band. The record, like the artwork that accompanies it, hovers between childish and charming, and I can’t quite decide which it is. The music is laid back and chilled, and the production mirrors that, adding to the atmosphere of the LP. The style of the art and production do give a sense of the album and this can hardly be seen as a negative aspect of the band but I feel the quality issues need to be addressed for them to progress.
That said, Longjaw show a lot of potential for their genre and …like a dog is a very good first step. I look forward to hearing where they go next.
Drop-D Rating: 5/10
Published on Drop-D.ie, 31st March, 2011
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