Dog Age: Good Day (theactivelistener)

 |   |  <1 min read

Dog Age: The King of Ing
Dog Age: Good Day (theactivelistener)

Here's the problem when neo-psychedelic artists posit themselves too exactly into a period and style, in this case specifically Lennon '67.

These Norwegians have certainly got the trippy ethos but here -- their two albums from '89 and '91 plus an extra track -- the nasal monotone of their Lennonesque vocals detracts from their rather fine folk-rock coupled with (occasionally orchestral) Lucy/Walrus pop.

It's worth remembering Lennon deployed his voice on songs like In My Life and Julia, it wasn't all echo, double-tracking and monochrome.

There are songs here which might have benefited from thinking about that so more character -- as on Here Comes the Summer -- might have come through.

As it stands this too often wears borrowed clothes (quirky Kinks, acoustic Move, solo Syd Barrett also) and that only serves to remind who owned them in the first place.

An interesting collection which certainly has its moments, but . . .

This album is available through Active Listener's bandcamp page here for free streaming or US$10 (or more). 

For more on the Active Listener and its psychedelic releases see this interview with Nathan Ford, the brains and enthusiasm behind it. And other AL releases reviewed are here.

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   Music at Elsewhere articles index

The Dallas Four: The Complete Recordings 1965-1969 (Frenzy)

The Dallas Four: The Complete Recordings 1965-1969 (Frenzy)

Forming in early '64 at the peak of the Beat-era and, after many line-up changes, morphing into Karma at the end of the decade, the Dallas Four were enormously popular with an Australian tour,... > Read more

Lyle Lovett: Natural Forces (Curb)

Lyle Lovett: Natural Forces (Curb)

With this fine country/alt.country singer-songwriter due to play in New Zealand soon, with Kasey Chambers (date and details here) and knowing his albums rarely go reviewed, it is timely to... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

RAY CHARLES 1954-1960: A soul brother movin' on

RAY CHARLES 1954-1960: A soul brother movin' on

The word "genius" was used so often about Ray Charles that people probably ceased to believe it in this age where a minor sports figure is referred to as "an icon" and... > Read more

THE CITY UNDER THE SKY (2017): Images of Oslo, Norway

THE CITY UNDER THE SKY (2017): Images of Oslo, Norway

Although Norway is rightly known for its fjords and towering landscapes, the capital city Oslo was established around flatter land. That means that when in the city itself or even at one of the... > Read more