Dog Park are a French dream pop band with members who are American and Brazilian. A smart ass would then say that they sound like British bands like Veronica Falls and Slowdive. I won't do that.
The band's new record Festina Lente kicks off with the lush (or should I say Lush) "Sunny Decadence", before "Time" offers up a more unique take on this familiar vibe. Elsewhere, "LaLaLa" and "Goldfish" shine as highlights here, proof that Dog Park are adept enough to subsume their obvious influences into their own sound. Fans of any of the bands I've mentioned will likely find that this resonates with them too, even as "Stimulation" nods more in the direction of Broadcast and Stereolab.
Dog Park, wisely, don't belabor their material here. This is all wonderfully easy to enjoy, and there's a ramshackle edge to the compositions on Festina Lente that provides a spark that other bands don't have. For that reason, I think I like Dog Park's take on this kind of thing very much indeed. And I'd urge you to check out this album and get swept up in its many hooks too as I did.
Festina Lente by Dog Park is out now. Details below.
[Photo: Clara de Latour]