Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Whether it is by looking across the marshy end of the Atlantic Ocean that surrounds New Jersey’s Benny’s Landing, the quiet splendour that engrosses the seasonal visitor to the once colonial outreach of Cape May, the thought of Wild Wood or the cacophony of noise that bombards the breakers and the casino halls of Atlantic City; what comes across all the time, is the sheer honesty that made the state culturally rich when it comes to music. Whatever the genre, whatever the time in which it lays downs its line of intrigue, New Jersey is arguably the state to visit if you want music to dig deep down into the roots of your soul.
It is an honesty that is reflected upon by the New Jersey band Dentist and their new album Night Swimming, the juxtaposition of the modern age, the urge to smile through all the consequences of the actions undertaken by those old enough to know better, but on the inside raging, aggressively pounding their head against a stubborn brick wall made of terrible policy and far reaching decisions that enable no one to feel comfortable, loved, this is the result of night swimming, the moon may make it attractive but as Dentist suggest, the dark water holds many dangers.
Emily and Justin Bornemann and Matt Hockenjos frames the current contrast felt, the gulf between those who feel the anxiety rise because of outside and external insanity and those who seem to enjoy causing the consistency of failure, of removing hope, that push others into believing that going swimming at night is romantic, an experience in which to laugh at, knowing full well that the vast majority are so blinkered that they will not see the rocks that reach out to graze, bruise and maim, nor the undercurrent willing to sweep them out of their depth.
It is in the freedom of Emily Bornemann’s vocals that the stirring of passion is felt keenly, the aggressive nature of the song-writing and drum performance giving credence to the opposition that punk, in all its forms and personalities, can muster if utilised and not allowed to sell out. In songs such as Alone In The Garden, Tight Spot, Figure-Four, All Is Well (In Hell) and Oh, the threesome live up completely to the history and the track record of their state musical heroes and keen fan observances and make good on their state motto of Liberty and Prosperity, the nature of understanding that the fight required sometimes draws on both to succeed.
Night Swimming is a very good album in which to sink into, to let the thought of the Atlantic shoreline please you and spark the revolution inside and to take the advice, and the warnings of the Dentist.
Dentist release their new album, Night Swimming, via Cleopatra Records on July 20th.
Ian D. Hall