Dog Unit – ‘At Home’ album review: exposing the cracks in vocal limitation
THE SKINNY: The race to prove the value of language seems redundant against At Home as Dog Unit reinstate the lines and textures of musical creativity. This is a space where the absence of vocals reveals more than meets the eye with soft, ambient jazz sensibilities combined with hard-hitting indie-rock elements to create something uniquely whimsical.
The fatigued listener may misinterpret At Home as merely another jest which serves up pretence under the guise of authenticity. Instrumental music can be difficult to win people over, but Dog Unit claim to be less unoriginal and more refreshing, a promise they deliver with a delicious push-and-pull of both intensity and tranquillity.
Although unsettling at first as you transition into their neatly placed world of colliding sounds and instruments, At Home can be gorgeous, beautiful even, as long as you agree to succumb and let it take you on its strangely appealing journey. While many of the songs seem melodic enough to host an accompanying vocal element, the imaginative aspect of this warrants more enjoyment than any voice ever could, leaving little space for identifying potential flaws.
The flaws are there, of course, in the natural dissonance between the sounds and the listening experience, but they are fleeting, and the natural twists and turns that demand matching energy appear intriguing enough to allow you to forget the more distant moments. Composing such an album seems even more challenging than piecing together a more traditionally vocal-first project, so credit where it’s due – At Home feels both a paradox and a beckon as its namesake draws you into its safe environment only to challenge the basis of musical expectation.
For fans of: Environmentally-conscious vinyl.
A concluding comment from a trainee officer: “Veering with purpose and precision towards darkness, even danger, Dog Unit flirt with playfulness, urgency, and necessity much like police K-9 units in reality: you have to be concise to succeed, with an eyes-on-the-prize attitude to expose the downfalls of those around you. This album toys with conflict like a ripped-apart dog toy, laughing in the face of those who lack their resilience.”
At Home track-by-track:
Release Date: April 5th | Producer: Dog Unit | Label: Brace Yourself Records
‘Concrete Barges on the Banks of the Thames’: Controversially, At Home‘s strongest points occur at its tail-end, which means that the first couple of tracks could get lost in translation. The luscious sprinklings are present, but the melody exudes a Muzak-like quality that feels too offensive and reductive to assign to Dog Unit at this point in time. [2/5]
‘Lab Coats’: A lot of At Home shows off Dog Unit’s ability to craft timeless cinematic pieces, which ‘Lab Coats’ feels perfectly reflective of. However, akin to the opener, the song takes a little while to warm up, resulting in lost effort and energy on the part of the listener. [2.5/5]
‘When Do We Start Fighting?’: This is where the album truly begins as Dog Unit subscribe to a tempo that feels more quintessentially them – they are, of course, just as skilled in the more well-paced, ambient tunes, but ‘When Do We Start Fighting?’ charges forward with ferocious purpose, a well-rounded reminder of the band’s undeniable artistry. [3.5/5]
‘We Can Still Win This’: Dog Unit are masters of tension, crafting build-ups that prime you for vocal intervention. ‘We Can Still Win This’ proves the power of the instrumental as each element fights for your attention without feeling forced or too overbearing. [4/5]
‘In a Magic World, Then Yes’: Being slow and delicate without venturing into the realm of boring is a difficult balancing act, and yet this track holds its own intricacy near and dear. In this way, it almost feels like it’s letting you in on its secrets, articulating serenity in the featherlight acoustic brushes and dimmed rhythmic beats. [4/5]
‘John X Kennedy’: Who knew instrumental rock ‘n’ roll could be this endearing? ‘John X Kennedy’ feels like Dog Unit’s exposition scene as the gritty guitars provide an insatiable glimpse into their magical world. [4/5]
‘Consistent Effort’: One thing that keeps your attention throughout At Home is the playfulness that lurks around each corner. ‘Consistent Effort’ may seem like a light and fun piece, but after the first listen, you begin to experience various layers peeling back before your ears. [3.5/5]
‘The Dogs Are Barking Again’: This considered track provides the ideal closer for an album so short and sweet. ‘The Dogs Are Barking Again’ feels more daring in its allure, though less in execution and more in its atmosphere. [3.5/5]
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