photo by Zofia Francka
Sydney-based four piece Bridge Dog share latest single, ‘Standard Issue’ on April 12.
On ‘Standard Issue’, false starts and abrupt key changes abound in a swirling, synth-driven cut. If the typically introspective, dreamlike narrative of the song feels unstable, it’s matched by an ever-shifting melody line that constantly simmers on the edge of boiling over, resulting in the band’s most tense, expressive effort yet.
Bridge Dog songwriters Grace Ha and Brian Park grew up in households where Korean ballads were the staple musical fare, so perhaps the only surprise is that it took this long for them to actively mine this influence for elements they could use in their own songs. While the careful layers of lush synths and jagged guitars draw from My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins, ‘Standard Issue’ takes its structural and emotional cues from the folk and power ballads that were in their heyday in Korea in the ‘70s and ‘80s - winding, extended verses with atypical choruses, seemingly disjointed instrumental intros, surprisingly emotive key changes - all culminating in a resolution that is found only in the very last line of the song.
By continuing to expand the horizons of their songwriting, Bridge Dog plumb unexpected depth by veering into noisier, dreamier territory than ever as the band prepares to release their debut full length effort in 2024.
Bridge Dog has played support to the likes of Last Dinosaurs, and Royel Otis, and their latest releases have landed on rotation on local community stations , as well as receiving national airplay and recognition on Triple J, Double J, and The Guardian.
‘Standard Issue’ is being premiered on Eastern Echoes on KEXP on April 4.