Dogtablet – Black Spaced Dust & Memories (Album – Distortion Productions)
Genre/Influences: Industrial-Pop, Electro, Experimental, Chanson.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: “Black Spaced dust & Memories” is the new album by the duo Martin King (Test Dept.) – Roberto Soave. They invited singers Frankie Nardiello aka ‘Groovie Mann’ (My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult), Jared Louche (Chemlab, Prude), Steven Archer (Ego Likeness, Stoneburner), Coral Scere (Scere, Silver Walks), Cat Hall (Dissonance), Daz Sharp and Melodywhore. Side-Line previously covered the album’s announcement in a news article listing the full Dogtablet discography.
Content: This album covers a wide range of influences which have been mainly carried by Industrial sound treatments and slow rhythms. It’s quite surprising discovering Chanson and Minimal-Pop driven by Industrial sound treatments. Dogtablet brings different genres together, sometimes connecting totally unexpected elements with each other. I also noticed several sensual passages because of the deep vocals and cadence. It might appeal to lovers of Massive Attack. I don’t know if the last cut “Back To Black” might be seen as a free, instrumental, adaptation of the famous Amy Whinehouse song but it clearly sounds like a cool wink.
+ + + : This album took me by surprise. It took me a few seconds to realize I was listening to something totally different from what I’m used to. The dark sound treatments and Industrial sphere caught my attention -so you’ll not be surprised that a Test Dept. member is hiding behind this project. But I’m totally devoted to this creative process revealing a brilliant and challenging approach. It sounds minimal and somewhat inhibited on one side but also features heavy, blasting, Industrial sound treatments on the other side. There also is a very nice selection of vocalists which really adapted themselves to the music. I definitely like the Massive Attack inspired “Fall Panic” feat. Jared Louche but also “Tar Pit” feat. Daz Sharp, “Profiler X&Y” feat. Melodywhore, “These Remains” feat. Steve Archer and the already mentioned, instrumental, “Back To Black”.
– – – : The single cut that couldn’t convince me is “The Dreamer” feat. Catt Hall. This one sounds as if there’s no real match between music and vocals.
Conclusion: This work sounds totally out of the box but it’s the kind of challenge I fully support; original and efficient featuring a few beautiful cuts.
Best songs: “Fall Panic”, “Tar Pit”, “Profiler X&Y”, “These Remains”, “Back To Black”, “Even & Only”, “Desire”.
Rate: 8.
Artist: www.facebook.com/Dogtablet
Label: www.distortionprod.com / www.facebook.com/distortionproductions
About Dogtablet
Dogtablet is the London-based industrial project of Martin King, formerly of Test Dept and Pigface, working here with Roberto Soave. According to Side-Line’s prior coverage, the project’s discography runs from “Outlaws & Strays” (2017), “Double Thirty” (2018) and “Feathers & Skin” (2019) through “Muscle & Bone (The Remixes)” and “Tales From The Outlaw” (both 2020) and “Pearldrop Blue” (2021), all self-released, before “Feathers & Skin/Pearldropblue” (2022) and the current album moved to Distortion Productions.
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