Sunday 16 August 2015

Review - Dog Paper Submarine – Signal From Kepler 22b




Dog Paper Submarine – Signal From Kepler 22b (Small Bear Records)

CD / DL

Out Now

8.5 / 10


Melodic Indie rock trio release their new EP. 

Nothing sounds more like distorted, lo-fi pop-rock than distorted, lo-fi pop-rock does, and that’s exactly what it should say all over this album.

Six cracking tracks (seven if you count the thirty second intro of a title track) from the Norwegian trio made up of frontman Martin Månsson Sjöstrand, Carro (drums) and Emil (bass) create a thoroughly refreshing blend of Indie, Surf, faux-grunge and psychedelia which will blow the cobwebs away to Kingdom Come.

It’s jam-packed with raw guitars, throbbing bass and enormous drums and is, underneath all the fuzz and deformation, actually a pretty commercial affair just bursting to be set free.  Ms Moonlet in particular is a lively catchy affair which is difficult to forget, and that would seem to be the strongpoint of this EP.  Tracks which have superb hooks and just cannot be forgotten easily.

There’s a hint of Blur’s Coffee & TV in to Happiness To Reinvent and that’s no bad thing.  In fact, Sjöstrand’s vocals aren’t unlike those of Damon Albarn at times where his words are clear and precise albeit in a slightly different accent, but listen and you’ll get the drift.

There are often breaks from the main tune which adds spark and fire to several moments, anarchic in places and punk-like in attitude.  It’s like the best of those American pretend-punk tunes have been given some meaning and life, and their melodies have been given a kick right up their baggy arsed jeans.

Weeping Firefighter has the best of those 60s singalong surf melodies and would maybe be what Bryan Wilson would sound like on crack cocaine whilst he screamed from the back seat of a bus whilst drinking neat vodka from the bottle.  Intrigued?  You should be, it’s all marvellous stuff.

On album closer Snail, it’s all power and madness again with a chorus which will become your earworm of the day should you allow it.  There’s no doubt that Dog Paper Submarine pack a punch, the only problem with Signal From Kepler 22b s that it all ends far too soon.




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Published on Louder Than War 10/08/15 - here



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