Reviewed by Phil Taylor (see his Music Observer blog here)
The doggy duo are back at it again. This irresistible and somewhat mysterious project involving music makers and good friends Michael Vickers (a well-known figure on the Leicester grassroots music scene) and producer Cobbler has been on another hiatus. But, as always, the fruits of their creative silence are wonderful to hear.
Over the past few years, Dogs Don’t Deal have experimented with lo-fi beats and noise-leaning alt-rock – and now with Be Less Jeff they are boldly melding the two, adding spoken word, experimental bleeps, samples and shimmery, millenial synths. It works fantastically, and the key is that the heart and soul of what this duo are all about is still very much there. A working-class honesty; a commitment to speaking truth to modern power. In their own words, Dogs Don’t Deal are “two UK boys with no filter, telling the truth about life right now.”
The track opens with satisfying, chunky guitar riffs – no surprises for the first second. But a veritably lo-fi snare beat instantly signals something different. Into this scene, Michael’s words ring through with immediacy, his Leicester inflections grounding the song, grabbing and holding attention. The tempo sets in, the track forming into a pulsating, insistent rhythm, setting out thoughts and feelings we must all surely be wanting to share. Lyrically, this is a hot poker, cutting straight to the heart of modern society, that headlong rush into an ever-madder future.
“Bring back the 3510, and never bring up AI again”
Then later, “I just want peace of mind and acts of kindness”
Preach.
Musically, Dog’s Don’t Deal do exactly enough here. The temptation to overdo it has been wisely avoided. The beats and riffs are jagged and unsettled, and the white-space between them says just as much as the sounds themselves. And, cunningly, this is all accomplished sub-three minutes. That is a very clever parody of commerciality. The song is feeding the short-attention span, meme-worthy content mill with themes that directly stand against it.
Â
Be Less Jeff is the first of four tracks recorded at a studio in France with producer James Sanger, whose credits include work with Dido, English Teacher, Phil Collins and U2. The timing feels absolutely right for Dog’s Don’t ‘Deal to take a stand for themselves and the dissatisfied masses.
Watch the official video here.