I have been following Santa Dog since 2005 when I got hold of their fantastic single 'Chemical'. Their odd name caught my eye, and the jangly guitar lines and throbbing bass had me hooked. It was a perfectly-formed track of delightful English pop, completes by intelligent lyrics and Rowena Dugdale's rather addictive, charming yet sharp delivery. But enough of the past; here's 'Spark It Up', the latest single from their début long-player 'Kittyhawk' that unfortunately only received release in Japan and the US.
'Spark It Up' is fresh-sounding, perfectly polished and a pleasant slice of pop. The lyrics may upset those against smoking or drug-taking ("spark it up/don't put it out/let's not question why") but as ever they're very nicely delivered by Rowena. It didn't grab me as much as previous singles that I've heard (the aforementioned 'Chemical' and 'Delicate' to name two) but it is still far better than some of the music on the market at the moment. The biggest criticism that can be levelled at it is that it lacks a slight edge, despite the slightly questionable lyrics. Everything has been smoothed and tweaked. This may be to do with the relatively long production process of the album; a lot of time has certainly been spent on making sure that the whole thing shimmers and gleams, but I can't help but lament a little the passing of the slightly rougher, grittier feel that can be heard in tracks such as 'Delicate'.
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'Attack Attack', the single's b-side is another sprightly and energetic track, even more jangly than 'Spark It Up'. Rowena's vocals are slightly longing and plaintive, almost apologetic, but always lovely. The guitars, at times staccato chimes, at times ringing arpeggios, duel and interweave winningly and the drums are as tight as ever.
While maybe not the best tracks that the group have thus far released, 'Spark It Up' is still a single worthy of your time, particularly if you're looking for a perfectly-formed helping of guitar-based pop.
http://www.santa-dog.co.uk/
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