Dopapod
Self-Released, 2022
8/10
A cosmic quartet consisting of Eli Winderman (keys, vocals), Rob Compa (guitar, vocals), Chuck Jones (bass), and Neal “Fro” Evans (drums), Dopapod produce a very enticing brand of fusion-rock on this 7th album, where instrumentals and vocal led tunes unfold with much precision.
“Think” opens the listen with 6 minutes of initially soft and soothing prog sounds that occasionally burst into louder swells of classic and hard-rock moments, and “Building A Time Machine” follows with firm versus delicate moments that mix crisp drumming with warm keys and plenty of soaring guitar work in an off kilter sort of way.
Deeper into the listen, things get pretty funky with the groove friendly bass of “Grow”, while “Nuff” brings soulful singing into some slight bluegrass nods that are unexpected but quite interesting.
Approaching the end, “Happy Accident”, the album’s best track, then shimmers with a cozy spirit of timeless prog-rock, and “Time Is Funny” exits the listen with breezy melodies and a swift pace of retro-rock that will always be relevant.
A listen that’s truly unclassifiable, which is certainly part of Dopapod’s charm, there’s a nice balance between energetic and calm song craft, and the band’s unpredictable nature makes for plenty of surprises along the way.
Travels well with: Calling Cadence- Calling Cadence; Dave Potter And Retro Groove- Dave Potter And Retro Groove