Dags! — Flaws & Gestures (2018)

Band: Dags!
Album: Flaws & Gestures
Release Date: 6.22.2018
Listen and Purchase here: Bandcamp
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I'm a little rusty when it comes to writing this sort of thing, so bear with me.

Dags! is a band I had no awareness of an hour ago, so whatever their history may or may not be, I haven't got a fucking clue. But this album gripped me immediately: a concise collection of earnest, emotive, and confident songs that blend elements of UK Maths (e.g. TTNG, Enemies, etc...) with those of some of my favorite "post-Indie" American groups of the past decade (shit like Hawks & Oxen and Piles & Piles).

Production is crisp and clear, with a great live air that suggests this was a well-practiced band ripping through their tunes in a small room together. The vocals are tuneful and tasteful, captured raw and on the verge of cracking, as they navigate a labyrinth of anxiety and curses. Instrumentation is dense but never burdened by virtuosity, focused more on rhythmic interplay and texture, rather than the discursive knots of guitar found in many of their forebears.

THIS IS THAT GOOD SHIT.

By the looks of things, they operate out of Italy (presumably they're Italian?) and are about to start a tour, so if you like what you hear make sure to hit up a show.

Do nascimiento - Do nascimiento (2011)

Confession time: I am a math rock hoarder.

It finally feels good to get that off my chest. So now that a team of trained individuals are twisting my arm, I am emptying my back catalog of tasty math from years past. First stop — Italy. 

Do Nascimiento are an impassioned bunch of gents with lots of high energy old school "emo-ness". A bit in the realm of that Philly sound but unhinged vocally (in a good way). Instrumentally you've heard this before, but it's honest work and they do try a couple different approaches here and there.

Quality stuff, but I do tend to like more creative juices dripping from this stuff.

(Bonus points for the pele nod)