So here we have another dose of infectious, truly British indie-pop by the eclectic five-piece, Dog is Dead, who have well and truly made their entrance onto the British indie stage. But they are not the most typical indie group. Probably because they are not characterised by wearing clothes likely to be worn by your grandparents. Hailing from Nottingham, this group is well on its way to becoming a classic part of the oh-so-fashionable indie scene of the now. Having played at Glastonbury in 2010 and supported the Bombay Bicycle Club on their tour earlier this year, its unsurprising they are quickly becoming an integral part of fashionable youth culture. And their latest single, ‘Hands Down’ is certainly a representation of this.

For a start, I expected this indie band to be like any other, with music that often makes me want to fall asleep. The track begins with a very relaxing heartbeat of repetitive strumming and a light drum beat. But as it continues, the drum beat, guitar riffs and even the vocals become considerably stronger and more interesting. The vocals certainly remind me of folk singer Benjamin Frances Leftwich, who I have reviewed previously, but I do think that lead vocalist, Robert Milton, has a much greater range than poor Benjamin. Strangely, there’s even a slice of Matt Bellamy in there, which is just far too confusing! The chorus is sure to be a popular sing-along, with the whole band seeming to be chipping in with the vocals. The much stronger beat of the whole song does make you want to dance around much more than most indie songs do, which is just like I think they should be. And towards the end there is quite a lot of distortion of the guitar, which adds another dimension to the song and keeps you pretty interested. This track is certainly truer to their indie roots, with some evident rock elements and strong vocals (although I don’t really know what he’s saying half the time – but hey, just enjoy the moment). Its good to hear some newcomers that really understand the indie genre, and are certainly not over-produced.

With the band currently working on their much anticipated debut album, which is to released in 2012, I expect that even more frenzy will arise around Dog is Dead. And with their biggest headline show being played in their hometown on the 17^th of this month, it seems as though the best is yet to come…

Faith Thomson

Share on Facebook