Fat Dog are one of the most exciting and euphoric bands on the scene right now. Expect the unexpected. Manic, thrilling, wild unhinged and utterly unique, the South London rabble rousers have just announced their debut album WOOF; a mind-bending record, due for release on September 6th via Domino.
Their live shows conjure up the sort of frenzied and wild scenes that haven’t been witnessed in the capital for years. Today, they share new song ‘Running,’ a slice of hook-heavy twisted trance. The video, directed by Stephen Agnew, hints to Ken Russell, Ingmar Bergman and MANDY whilst revealing the true origins of the cult of Fat Dog and their real leader. With a dark voice that rises from the bowls of the earth, spellbinding and propulsive, the track builds up to a frenzied cyclical explosion, fizzing with static electric energy and flecks of rave ready euphoria. It’s pure catharsis.
Chosen by GIITTV as one of the Sounds of 2024, they are dark, wild, witty, skilled and utterly in control of the chaos that they create. It’s a joy to behold, feeling like the ground zero of a whole new youth movement. Fat Dog said, “A lot of music at the moment is very cerebral and people won’t dance to it. Our music is the polar opposite of thinking music.”
They have become one of the most buzzed about names on the festival circuit. Every Fat Dog show in London has a huge upgrade on the last. There is something deeper going on here than the usual punter-goes-to-gig situation. “There’s a sense of community about Fat Dog,” says Hutchinson. And it’s not just the capital who have been bitten; recently, the band completed an ecstatically received tour of the US that included an all-conquering set at a taco joint. They will tour the UK next month and in November including their next hometown show at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town on Saturday 23rd November as well as performing at a string of festivals in the UK and Europe this summer before heading back to North America in October.
Lead singer Joe Love says that the sound Fat Dog make is screaming-into-a-pillow music. “I wanted to make something ridiculous because I was so bored.” It’s a thrilling blend of electro-punk, rock’n’roll snarling, techno soundscapes, industrial-pop and rave euphoria, music for letting go to. Produced by Joe Love, James Ford and Jimmy Robertson, WOOF passes by in a flash. Influences include Bicep, I.R.O.K., Kamasi Washington and the Russian experimental EDM group Little Big.
The album is a visit into the mind of Joe Love – be thankful you have only been granted a temporary pass. “Music is so vanilla,” says Love. “I don’t like sanitised music. Even this album is sanitised compared to what’s in my head. I thought it would sound more fucked up.”
Woof is out on 6th September via Domino. Follow Fat Dog here
Photo credit: Pooneh Ghana
