Blank Dogs

Blank Dogs sounds like a memory of a pop song heard through a thick concrete wall. It is characterized by a heavy layer of analog tape hiss, mechanical drum machine patterns, and melodic synth lines that struggle to break through the murky production. The vocals are often a ghostly, deadpan murmur, buried so deep in the mix that they become another instrument rather than a delivery vehicle for lyrics.

What makes Mike Sniper's project distinctive is the tension between his obvious gift for catchy, New Order-esque melodies and his refusal to present them clearly. It is 'shitgaze' at its most intentional, using low-fidelity recording as a creative tool to create an atmosphere of urban isolation and mystery. The music feels both urgent and distant, like a secret broadcast from a subterranean studio.

Start with 'Under and Under' to hear the project at its most cohesive. It captures the transition from raw bedroom sketches to a more defined, albeit still wonderfully dusty, post-punk sound. It is the perfect entry point for anyone who loves the gloom of Joy Division but wants the DIY grit of the modern underground.