Office dog
Chat
New West
08 March 2024
Web Exclusive
Auckland-based trio Office Dog – made up of Kane Strang, Mitchell Innes and Rassani Tolovaa – exercise their impeccable chemistry to satisfying ends on their debut album, Chat. Their sound is rooted in grungy guitars and indie rock sensibilities, but transcends these touches at almost every turn. That the trio arrives with a fully formed sound makes sense. With the goal of collaboration in mind, Strang formed Office Dog with Innes and Tolovaa, both of whom have played with Strang in the past (on tour and as a member of Strang's previous band, respectively). Produced, engineered and mixed by De Stevens, ChatIts 12 songs never stand still and are always looking for new ways to showcase Office Dog's abilities. Melancholy melodies drive songs like 'Hand in Hand', while the rhythms of 'Gleam' and 'Big Air' add an urgency to their dense, layered sound.
However, these punches are only part of what Office Dog has to offer Chat. The shimmering strums on “Tightropes” work like sunlight hitting ripples on a murky lake, while Strang's soft vocals on “Warmer” might call to mind Alex G. “The Crater” borrows from Built's indie swing to Spill, but still delivers the full sound of Office Dog. That's all to say that Chat is a solid example of a band bending influences to their will rather than the other way around. ()
Author Rating: 7/10
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