Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

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Full disclosure: I’m not a huge Martin Dosh fan. I am not one of those select few that rants and raves about his rhythmic prowess or his sock-em-bop-em beats. Nonetheless, after having seen him perform with Andrew Bird last year, I figured that Dosh’s new album Wolves and Wishes would give me the perfect chance to give him a real good listen. Truth be told, I’m rather impressed.

Though I’m pretty much over my instrumental music stage, I do enjoy a vocal-less album here and there. The problem with Wolves and Wishes for me, though, has to deal with certain tracks that are sheer noise. “Bury the Ghost” is an awful drone, while “First Impossible” is actually 9 full minutes of….noise. But Dosh is also at his best on this album: “Capture the Flag” is a delightfully cheerful piano and synth-heavy track that reminds me a little of the energy of The Blue Man Group. “The Magic Stick” has got this interesting department store vibe that mixes with his more hardcore electronic side. “Kit and Pearle” is the real highlight on this album, with its urgent softness (a la Air) and Dosh’ incredible attention to detail.

So in the end, I think it’s worth your time and your ears. Grab a copy of Wolves and Wishes.

Listen to “Kit and Pearle” (4.7/5)

Listen to “The Magic Stick” (4.6/5)