a Dog & Panther show

I’d like to introduce you to a band I recently discovered that has been giving me no end of pleasure these last few weeks. Whether I’m driving home from work down Woodward Avenue, am on a transatlantic flight halfway across the ocean in the dead of night, or strolling down Brick Lane soaking up the inspiring creative atmosphere in the East End of London, I can’t but help turn to the magic of their music. Loving every moment of their perfectly composed sound-waves seeping out my headphones, through my ears and into my brain, before eventually piercing the very essence of my soul.

Some of you who frequent this blog will already be familiar with this band but most of you won’t be, and it’s for those currently unaware I present to you the musical genius that is Dog & Panther.

You’re forgiven if your first thoughts as you sample their music is to think they are some experimental Ben Gibbard project. Not the melancholy sound of Death Cab, but more of an uplifting spirit not so far off the wonderful work he did with Jimmy Tamborello when producing The Postal Service album. Give Up is one of my all time favorites and for almost 10 years I have patiently waited for a sequel album, knowing deep down inside that it was never going to come. And now I no longer have to, Dog & Panther are here and they have done a fine job of filling that musical void that’s plagued me all these years.

I’m by no means a musical critique and wouldn’t dare guess the artistic influences and inspirations of such a talented group of musicians that is Dog & Panther, so maybe I’m way off base with the whole Ben Gibbard thing, but I can’t be blamed for going there when the voice of their lead singer sounds eerily similar to that of Gibbard himself. But their singer is another Ben – Ben Vrazo, a talent in his own right who deserves the chance to shine outside the shadows of other great vocalists of our generation. I had the pleasure of working with him for a short time at my former agency, how little idea I had of the true talent of that designer with the cocky confident smirk who I sometimes found sat across from me in meetings (didn’t anyone get him the memo that I was already the biggest smart-ass in the company?!).

Their music comes at you full force with all kinds of interesting samples that they have gathered from wherever they find the right sound – whether it’s banging the engine of a car, or tapping the siding of a house, you can watch their technique at work during the making of their Giant Hands EP which is available for free download. Watching their video takes me back to some earlier days when I had friends at sound engineering school, never without their Sony MiniDisc Walkman capturing all the sounds heard on the streets of London, in their minds already composing it into something great, whilst all I heard was the average everyday noise of the London bustle.

I’m big into lyrics and that’s an equally compelling dimension this band brings to their songs – they’re so simple and easy to hear, yet simultaneously so deep in their candor, the kind of lyrics that transcend any one situation and mean to you whatever you need to take from them in the moment, regardless of what the true story behind them actually is (does the original inspiration for lyrics ever really matter once it’s been given up for public consumption?) I’ll leave you with the lyrics of the first song on their album What Happened – Love Make. Brilliant, simple, real. Words to live by, permanently making it’s way into my life’s philosophy, forever inspiring me in my work and family moving forward. Jackson pay attention to these lyrics and understand the message, it’s a good one.

The song itself is just as good as the lyrics. After a modest minute and a half it ends just as suddenly as it started, leaving you wanting more. But not to worry, almost immediately the next track starts, nothing like the first, showing their true diversity On My Friends kicks off, coming in with some crazy kazoo instrumental, lyrics just as powerful.

Download it, listen to it, love it, live by it. Dog & Panther I’m your fan!