Review D. Butler (Dockmini) "Leaves EP"
Yeah, moving into the realm of reviews heres our first one celebrating the release "Leaves" from D.Butler (formerly Dockmini), heres my track by track low down as I heard the 4 track EP for the first time a couple weeks back.
As it’s been a while since I've heard any of Dom's music I went into this project with no expectations
The 4 track EP kicks off with the arpegiated blip-blop driven "Faint Horizon" swelling synth leads hold centre stage as the song slowly builds up and gives a anthemic video game feeling, almost like I've just spent the last few months deep within an RPG and I'm now being greeted with rolling credits chock full of Japanese developers names.
Drums are knocking but not in the forefront as you'd expect with a typical Beat Battle blap; it's hard to categorise which is great but it's not too far from the hiphop sound Dom has built over the years; there’s just a few scoops of something else that I can't quite put my finger on!
Islands is next which begins with some haunting piano chords, lush strings and intricate percussions (sounds a like a tabla). The build-up continues as Dom plays with the low-end bringing in some tuned subs and a kick drum to keep pace.
All that’s missing from this one is an 808-kit to bring it into the modern hiphop aesthetic; sounds like something a Big Kritt or Drake would have no problem lacing with something heartfelt and equally as a powerful solo piece which could serve as mental screen burn to whatever visuals would accompany it; just as everything comes to head Butler sends the players home as we end on an unresolved piano note, it feels like its wrapped too early but in the same breath Dom's also said what he's needed to say;
Just as we're getting warmed up to this gumbo of soundscapes Dom is serving up we're on journey back with the track "Home", meaty kicks and a snappy hand claps conduct the action while we get a mesh of synth chords, an abrasive lead that boomerangs every four bars as well as some string work (which knowing D could actually be live!)
To wrap things up comes “Roderigo Navarro” which has some slowed down R&B acapella (I presume) giving a spooky melodic feel, the kick drum and reverbed up snare fill the negative space up on this minimal number, a short one clocking in at just over two minutes the track closes with another vocal chop and perhaps the only four hihats I’ve heard so far in the last fifteen minutes!
All in all this was an adventure to listen to, somehow in only four tracks Dom was able to get quite a few ideas across and definitely show he's got an ear for some interesting musical situations, no real criticism other than it's length but it certainly should wet a few appetites and have heads checking for whatever else Dom has planned on Sign Records.
I'm hopeful he'll follow this up with another project in the not too distant future; otherwise he'll run the risk of going down as a "shouldda couldda wouldda" in this post apocalyptic beat world of genre crossing and non specifics.
The sound here is versatile to have live musicianship applied to it, vocalists and rappers, Dom can take this in a very interesting direction and I’m certainly tuned in.
Big up Dock...I mean Dom, some brave musical maturity going on in here!
Leaves by D. Butler is out now on Sign records as a free download, tell a friend to tell a friend, free stream below as well as the visual to Faint Horizon.
Download the "Leaves EP" from the Sign Records Bandcamp
Holla at D.Butler on Twitter
Check out Sign Records online
