Dosh: Wolves and Wishes

Label: Anticon

Long one of electronica’s finest (and underrated) acts, Martin Dosh’s self-named group returns with its fourth official album, Wolves and Wishes – and it’s perhaps his strongest effort yet. The sticker on the CD says “File in: Rock”. It’s debatable if rock is the dominant sound fixture over the course of these songs, but the sonic palate is large and messy. Guest stars pop in sporadically, Andrew Bird adding violin here and there, Will Oldham bellowing on “Bury The Ghost” and Odd Nosdam adding random noise on “Keep Up Appearance”. Despite the dynamic swings, never before has Dosh sounded this assured and melodic. Unlike so many other electronic acts, nothing plods along or meanders here. These tunes pulsate with life. With Four Tet’s future a bit up in the air, Dosh just may emerge as one of the genre’s brightest stars. Give them a listen. (Jed)