Yellow Phase, the debut album from Fredericton, New Brunswick-based Dad Patrol, is full of surprises. Though part of its charm is the grainy quality that all homegrown records possess, it’s also a space where members Jonathan Marino, Gregor Dobson, and Zachary Pelletier show off their ability to craft complex and dynamic songs.
The record’s homegrown feel is attributed to the highly private recording spaces the songs took root in. Marino’s basement, Pelletier’s bedroom, and Dobson’s Jeep Patriot all count themselves as the exclusive studios where this album took shape.
This creative process only does favours for the trio’s sound. It’s the glue that solidifies the intentional lack of polish, the quirky timing and discordant harmonies. “Yellow”, for instance, feels very disjointed, with smooth verses punctuated by a stuttering chorus. In concept, it all suggests a lack of care, but in execution, it’s charmingly rough around the edges.
Besides, no one can truly suggest a lack of care when the arrangements are so surprisingly complex. Though the lyrics have heart and help to drive the songs forward, they often feel more like a backdrop for intense, building instrumentals. This trend of subverting the expectations of a song starts early and only gets more and more prominent until the end of the album.
“Beneath You” is one of several songs that opts for more simplistic lyrics in favour of the melody and instrumentals stealing the show. Most of the song has vocalist Dobson repeating the song’s title in a layered chant, while everything else spirals into something unhinged and grandiose in scale. It’s a rare moment where a more polished recording would have done higher justice to everything that’s going on here.
The album ends with “Backseat”, a churning, seven-minute power finale. The song starts subdued, but this energy ebbs and flows. Each lull in energy is only to pause and refuel for the next display, even grander than the last. The lyrics are scarcer on this song than anywhere else as the song gradually builds to a chaotic crescendo, only to peter out into silence.
Despite this being their first substantial offering, Dad Patrol have already proven themselves to be more than adept at crafting a layered, complex album—an impressive and unexpected feat for bedroom emo rock.