Ando Laj - Dog Insight
Ando Lag’s latest album “Dog Insight,” released on July 20th, 2020, is a pleasant surprise. While it’s lacking innovation, its ideas are fully realized and its ambience is mesmerizing.
Aal Tn is an experiment, playful opener. Its most admirable quality is how it deters away from the standard beat structure to play with its instrumentals more, before it introduces a weird, percussive element. Mist continues the notion of eclectic percussion, accompanied by Andy Stott-styled walls of synths. The song gets truly creative when the programmed tribal beats kick in, despite the fact they’re looped. Soj Alm is absorbing and enlightening, as is Roc End. The latter track is easily the standout on the album, as it smartly plays around with its composition and introduces gorgeous, swirling synths. Direct Choir also gets somewhat experimental, but it’s so short it could hardly be considered anything other than an experiment. Nothing gets more playful than Roata One, however, with its peart melodic elements and disjointed soundscape. It’s a strange listen, but an engaging one nonetheless.
Like the majority of experimental IDM in the underground scene, it’s a lack of progression within the compositions drags the experience down. The drums often feel copy-pasted more often than not. Regardless, the beautiful accompanying soundscapes are a marvel, and make the experience worth it. It’s not innovative; but if the artist can incorporate a new sound unheard of before, it’s highly likely he will soar to higher places.
Good
Listen to it here:
Ando Laj - Dog Insight
