SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DOG PARK – FESTINA LENTE

DOG PARK
FESTINA LENTE
GÉOGRAPHIE

Nominally, Paris-based quartet Dog Park is labeled as a dream pop band. Yet, these days, music labels (genres) are losing much of their sense as artists are blending in elements in their music that seemingly do not belong together.

That is exactly what Dog Park are doing on their debut album Festina Lente, But then, it should come as no surprise as Jean and Sarah are from Paris, Erica is American, and Isabella is Brazilian. At the same time, they are multi-instrumentalists and as such, like to play musical chairs whenever it suits their music.

And on their debut, the music wanders from their declared dream pop base to twee pop, Brazilian sounds, strands of Stereolab influences and what not. Yet, instead of a patchy musical quilt, they create quite a seamless, often languid concoction that works, picking up the pace when needed, like on “Stimulation”.

Festina Lente turns out to be quite an intriguing set that works practically on all levels. Quite a debut.

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