- When considering dogs and drum & bass, you can't help but think masculine aggressiveness, the distorted growls and barks of the neurofunk and techstep sound and the gangsta rap-influenced swagger of older jungle. Russian newcomer Bop is on a different tip altogether with "Song About My Dog," though, which is literally dedicated to his pug Boyaka. A solemn electro IDM flavour dominates both tracks and a sense of retro-futurism is pervasive. Think Laika, not Cujo.
"Song About My Dog" starts off with simple but beautiful electric chords that sound like a cosmonaut plunking away on his space piano until an electro beat kicks in and the varied claps, kicks and snares start to play along with the melodic elements. The melody is the grabbing element here, though. It's soaring, lovely and almost trancelike at times, but it never goes over the top.
"Random Thoughts" is a glitchier number, which clicks, hisses and bleeps along until the 1:30 mark when the beat kicks in. Floaty pads twirl over its hiccuping foundation, and these cut-ups and stutters take the structure of the tune to the brink yet (again) Bop's knack for melody keeps the song from collapsing into an IDM cliché.
Bop utilises the open framework of drum & bass in the best possible way, adhering to its fast paced tempo and the drum and bass emphasis. He pulls together a varied set of influences here, and looks to be quickly building a sound that is uniquely his own.
TracklistA Song About My Dog
B Random Thoughts