It opens with a siren wailing and it ends with the stampede of horses.
Doesn't exactly fit under the traditional definition of music, huh?
"Never Let Them Catch You Crying" is the new album from More Dogs. Just like the title of the album and the band name, the music is intriguing.
Sounds ranging from everyday noises to circus music are enclosed in a short album, consisting of only seven songs. Each track flows into the next with surprising ease and almost no empty space between tracks.
Although quite strange, the album is tolerable and interesting. More Dogs works with a broad instrumentation, creating work that sometimes plays like the theme to a mystery movie. Other times it's simple enough to be played by a group of elementary school musicians on recorders.
Listening to "Never Let Them Catch You Crying" invokes a peculiar feeling of marching off into "The Wizard of Oz's" Munchkinland.
There is a distinct line between bizarre and unidentifiable, and More Dogs successfully avoids crossing that line.
The most prominent instruments used are drums. More Dogs uses the drums to create a distinctive sound, without going over the top. Adding to the peculiarity, the music sounds as if it was meant to be background music for a cartoon.
The beat is accessible, and it plays well as background music by not disturbing those who might be trying to do other things.
The songs are almost completely instrumental, with a few words for effect in the first and last tracks. The absence of lyrics gives the album a quality of interpretive expression, helping it focus on the musical part of the process.
It's probably worth it to give More Dogs a chance. Skepticism is healthy, but "Never Let Them Catch You Crying" will keep you on your toes.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
