Track Review: DLORE: Jackal

‘Hectically theatrical – yet soothingly soulful, it has everything and makes you want even more.’

Intro to DLORE
Performing at festivals throughout 2018 including Latitude, Boomtown and Glastonbury, three-piece band DLORE, consisting of Dan Law (guitar/vocals), Josh Smiley (bass/backing vocals) and Mikey Shaw (drums/producer) are onto a winning sound. Not many new artists can produce a sound that feels more polished and more creative than those in the mainstream, but this is what they have achieved. Released today (26th July 2019) ‘Jackal‘ would be an absolute stand out track for any band. The fact that this is their debut as a trio though, makes it even more impressive and makes you want their forthcoming EP to arrive right now. Read more at: Behind the Music: Interview with DLORE

Track Review
From the moment the deep vibrating tones and atmospherics emerge you know that this is going to be a track of captivating musicality. Curious sounding and instantly stirring, the combination of sweeping sounds, lapping water and wordless call to prayer style vocals conjures up images that truly relate to the title. Musically there’s no doubting the Jackal is on the prowl. As starts go, you wonder if it could be any better. But, with Dan’s vocals joining it does exactly that. Get’s better.

Initially soothing and effortlessly soulful, it makes for a beautiful sound. It’s calm. Delicate even. Then bang! Jolting you with an explosion of drums, rasp-edged vocals and electric guitar, that stealthy prowl has turned into an attack. Catching you out, it’s a surprise to say the least. However, setting up what is to be a series of alternating musical themes and influences, it suddenly feels exactly right. 

Showcasing both the calm and more hectic elements that will feature heavily throughout the track, on moving through these opening sections, there is a superb sense of ebb and flow. Presenting settings of lyrical content that change literally every few seconds may strike you as disjointed. But the effect is quite the opposite. This though is for one reason alone: the sheer level of musical conviction DLORE have for what they do.

Proving this beautifully, each of the phrases are accompanied by sparse, empty textures, dominating ones or developing ones. These developing ones really are a showcase with the delicate chords and selective cymbals blending into more driving rhythms. Likewise, the vocals swap around all over the place. One moment they are solo and true sounding. The next they are full of effects and harmonic. Each setting though has a purpose and with lines such as ‘I cannot listen coz I’m always talking’ and ‘to kill the silence between the sirens’  appearing at just the right moments, it all the connects together seamlessly.

Attempting to become more centred within a style, following a further alternation of calming and dramatic moments, the rockier elements briefly disperse and lead us to the beautifully set phrase of ‘Sideways, Always.’ Soaring and sweeping above a warm accompaniment of dreamy picked guitar and triplet-time drums, the main vocals are as on point as can be. But, combine this with bass harmonic vocals and the most wonderfully free-form-edged soulful sound emerges. 

Reaching this point of the track, it would be an understatement to say that there has been a powerful mix of influences. However pushing this further, as we head toward the halfway point the atmosphere changes once again to take on an incredibly theatrical form. Musically thrashing around, dominating bass guitar, thumping accented drums and distorted vocals collide creating an enormous wall of sound. Perfectly reflecting the line of ‘Howling like a Jackal looking for food, But I stumble.’ it’s an incredible moment.

With the continually changing atmospheres of the track feeling like they will never cease, on arriving at the phrase ‘Over the fault line, I can’t feel the sign.’ we get the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the more relaxed musicality. Yes, like the Jackal itself you can rest assured that the drama is over, but DLORE‘s captivating musicality is not. It is however, to take on a very different form.

Built on an accompaniment of lightly strummed, joy-filled guitar chords and gentle percussive rhythms a true softness emerges. Almost carefree in delivery, it’s a real wake up call to the jazz and soul influences that have been touched on but not truly shown their face. Here though, they are on full display and with Dan’s vocal increasingly featuring rawness and sublime falsetto, it’s just as incredible as the most dominating moments. However, as magical this is, it’s no match for the showcase conclusion where everything that has been combines to form a truly special, goosebump-inducing sound.

Follow DLORE on: Facebook & Instagram
Listen to and watch DLORE on: Spotify and YouTube
Find out more about DLORE at: Behind the Music: Interview with DLORE and Track Review: DLORE: Iron

DLORE are part of Listen to Discover’s #FridayFindsFeaturedArtist series which you can keep up to date with on Twitter and Facebook.