The Doozers – ‘Becoming An Entity’ album review: The fourth floor in an art gallery
THE SKINNY: It could be argued that sometimes art galleries are too big. While the first piece you see might be stunning, and the second, and the third, when you are subject to walls of work over multiple floors, the important meaning and craftmanship which has gone into every piece can be lost. Messages overlap and contort to the point that it can be hard to tell one piece from the last. This is how it feels listening to the new indie album by The Doozers, Becoming An Entity.
It’s worth starting by saying that this is a good album. The instrumentation is lovely, the lyricism is insightful, and the harmonies are layered beautifully and executed well. There isn’t much to criticise. Granted, there are a couple of moments where some of the vocals are pitchy, or melodies feel a bit haphazard, but as a general rule, you won’t go far wrong listening to this record.
The issue comes in an apparent hesitancy that seems to haunt the band. It feels very much like they have found a style and a sound that works; therefore, they stick to it like glue. That style and sound are also reminiscent of a great deal of indie music that has come before and will certainly come after. The result is that while the album is an enjoyable listen, it doesn’t offer a great deal that separates it from other records. Tracks like ‘Make It Tessellate’, ‘Ah Shellanté’ and ‘Filter Feed’ are fun indie bops, but that can be said about a lot of music.
There are moments when the band seem to tap into something a bit more exciting, which sometimes doesn’t pay off, such as in ‘:0 <3’, which sounds out of place and messy. Then there are times when it works, like on ‘Milk::Time’, where there is spoken word over a borderline jazz instrumental that sounds great but is unfortunately disbanded as quickly as it’s introduced as the band revert back to their staple sound.
It would be great to see The Doozers let loose a bit more on this album, as that would no doubt separate it from its contemporaries. For now, listening to Becoming An Entity feels akin to perusing masterpieces on the fourth floor of an art gallery. You’ve seen and heard too much of it for it to really make an impact.
For fans of: Dancing in the sun and drinking something cold in a TopMan t-shirt.
A concluding comment from someone who has never heard this album before: “I think I’ve heard this album before.”
Becoming An Entity track by track
Release date: July 26th | Producer: Connor Robertson | Label: Self-released
‘World 1 – Gopher Bop’: There have to be points given to this track for its upbeat nature and the way it welcomes you into the album with open arms, but the swamp-like instrumentation that makes up a bulk of the melody and pitchy vocals in the chorus make it an uneven listen. [2.5/5]
‘Make It Tessellate’: Dancing shoes are recommended. The upbeat nature of this track and the way the song is structured so that there feel like pauses, but they’re never mundane enough to stop you moving, make for a perfect indie bop. It’s a very fun song worth your time and energy. [3.5/5]
‘Ah Shellenté’: Huge props to this song for the gorgeous harmony that plays throughout. Vocalists’ voices bounce off one another and intertwine seamlessly, and it’s a joy to listen to. The song itself is pretty sounding and easy to listen to; however, it doesn’t do much to stand out in the grand scheme of things. It doesn’t deliver much other than an outro riff, which is a welcoming shift. [3/5]
‘5-3’: The plucked chords on the bass and guitar are beautiful, but as drums and added effects are introduced, it feels as though what sounds unique is lost in the swell of indie that surrounds this album. It’s not a bad sound by any means, but if approached differently, this song could be a real standout. Instead, it falls in line. [2.5/5]
‘Start Me Up, My Friend’: This track is a welcome change in tone, slightly pitched down, faster, and brooding. It has a lot of energy and feels oddly nostalgic, while no doubt coming from a recent album. It’s the perfect blend that will attract fans, new and old. [4/5]
‘Tidal Song’: Things are taken down a level for this tune. ‘Tidal Song’ is incredibly stripped back and dream-like in its conception, and it is met with some of the most tranquil vocals on the record. [3.5/5]
‘What’s Mine’: This song doesn’t betray the last but progresses sweetly. That stripped-back feel is still there slightly, as we are given something much more peaceful than some of the earlier tracks on the album; however, there is more energy attached to this song, particularly towards the outro, which feels like it has perfect placement on the LP. While running on nicely from ‘Tidal Song’, it builds on its tranquil nature incredibly seamlessly. [4/5]
‘Moontic’: This song feels like a nice break in the album, but it doesn’t do much. Tuned-down vocals in the intro sound jarring and feel unnecessary, while a lot of the melody feels like it is acting as a stand-in until something more solid comes along. It’s certainly not a bad track, but it is lacking. [2.5/5]
‘:0 <3’: Not sure what the point of this track is. It would fit in a song with more of a narrative attached or a record that needed some poorly distinctive filler, but it’s not necessary on this album. [n/a]
‘I Think It’s Time’: From the lowest point to the highest, ‘I Think It’s Time’ is a funk-infused, fuzz-heavy masterpiece. While it feels like a standout on the album, it is still perfectly in keeping with all that came before it. The tonality and feel of the song are those we have already experienced, yet it feels like something completely new. [4/5]
‘Filter Feed’: A nice indie bop that plays around with rhythm and knows when to go all in and when to pull back. It’s by no means a standout, but it is a lovely listen, and the album still has energy despite us coming close to the end. [3/5]
‘Milk::Time’: It feels like it could be an interesting turn of events but doubles back on itself. What begins as an upbeat, borderline jazzy number with scattered spoken word over the top collapses into a song similar to many of those we have already heard on the album. It feels like a wasted opportunity. [2/5]
‘Keeping Form, Coming Loose’: A stripped-back funky number, gorgeous to listen to as we are ushered towards the end of this album. Instrumentally, the song is a ray of sunshine, which contrasts with the lyrics that repeat, “It’s all coming loose.” [3/5/5]
‘Authority’: A cinematic-like ending. Roll credits as a heavily reverbed spoken word plays over a hard-hitting synth and a large, atmospheric sound. It’s the perfect way to end, with a style that plays into the rest of the album, nodding to it as we drive off into the sunset. [3/5]
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