The list of friends on someone’s MySpace site is normally a good indication of the style of music on offer. For London’s Hungry Dog Brand, Wreckless Eric and Patrick Fitzgerald feature prominently and it’s that punk poet style which best describes their music. The Hungry Dog himself is Martin Dowsing who handles vocals and guitar duties, accompanied by American “alt-blues maverick” Preacher Boy and an assortment of other musicians. Together they have produced a record of witty and often charming songs, with a distinctly late 1970’s flavour.
Certainly, Dowsing’s vocal style is not for everyone. His Southern sneer dominates each of these tracks. However, just like influences such as John Cooper Clarke, he’s more than capable of delivering the message. The standouts are ‘Reunited’, which features a nice rumbling guitar rhythm, ‘The Lake’ makes good use of a military drum beat and sends a chill down the spine whilst the blackest humour dominates ‘Say Hello To My Idiot Son’ (”When he was born we were so happy, but now he’s twelve and he’s still in a nappy”). Then right at the end, Dowsing changes from a sneer a tear for ‘A Long Way From Here’; a poignant, regretful tale of a life as a soldier. Overall, this is an entertaining record which successfully recaptures the nostalgia of the punk poets’ heyday.
Web Sites:
Hungry Dog Brand Site
>Hungry Dog Brand MySpace
Further Listening:
Wreckless Eric, John Cooper Clarke, Patrick Fitzgerald
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