A welcome reminder of the classic Depeche Mode approach to music & performance, the likes of which aren’t found all that often in modern music. There’s a sense of seductive drama to it all, the essence of which Dobie has captured pretty perfectly.
Rebecca Cullen
A classic hip hop backdrop & vibe – thick beats, rhythm, simple & scene-setting chord progressions. The artist flaunts his own approach to performance & lyricism, adjusting to the changing pace of the music accordingly.
Undeniably authentic, mildly reminiscent of the acoustic rock sound of the nineties, but at the same time completely refreshing & hypnotically calming. A totally unique band right now, this album is something of a masterpiece.
At the same time as appearing unusual, quirky even, there’s a definite touch of professionalism & well-crafted musicality, which makes it a dream to escape to.
The structure of this is everything, the sounds are unquestionable – the intro is peaceful & reflective, calming, but it’s the rising level of complexity, the increasing details, that really make this something special.
The effects make it feel as if you’re seeing something you shouldn’t be, leaked footage maybe, which adds to that element of drama & makes sense alongside of the song’s subject matter.
They are always short, the lyrics, always seeming like mere snippets of deeper thoughts or poems. It works within these high energy, ever-shifting soundscapes. You’d know a Gonetcha record after spending even just a little time with these songs.
Fear is not very me. I’m like a positive tornado wrecking all the negative shit that’s out there. You could put me in front of an active nuclear bomb & I would dance & sing to it. Fuck that bomb, this is my moment.
The inspiration is different for every song. Most times it’s to cope or get closure on a traumatic event or season in my life. Other times, I write to capture a moment in time or describe a feeling.
Being able to walk down the street & see live music everywhere has taught me a lot about performance. I pick up on things that I’d like to incorporate into my shows, and I’ve really just learned to be conversational on stage as that’s what I enjoy watching most.
It can be heartbreaking when an audience doesn’t get what you’re trying to do. Most professionals have to learn to become uncaring to a point to continue performing live as almost all live performances are ‘without a net’, so to speak.
The project in full is where the true beauty & strength exists. Forest Robots is a perfectly fitting name for an artist who crafts these kind of considerate & conscious arenas of music.