Three years ago, Sweden seemed as good a place as any to settle down for brother and sister act Sarah Parthemore Snavely and Jacob Donal Snavely, aka Dag For Dag. They shared a crows-nest sized room, bought a bicycle, fell from grace, woke up new, picked up a guitar, stole a 4-track, took pity on an abandoned piano, and started to make music.

The first release, SHOOTING FROM THE SHADOWS E.P., was released on Saddle Creek Records in May ‘09. Since then (together with drummer Chucjk Bukowski), Dag For Dag have have toured raucously with Wolf Parade, Cursive, Lykke Li, Shout Out Louds, Handsome Furs, The Faint and The Kills, and caused quite a stir…

BOO is the band’s debut full-length album and after a few listens (required) I think it’s a fine record, that’s both original and distinctive. A short nightmarish intro moves seamlessly into ‘I Am The Assassin’, a bass-driven rocker with heavy pop sensability, and a dense, echoed ambience. ‘Hands And Knees’ slows the pace but delivers a very similar sound, albeit with a stronger melody. The sound takes on another guise in ‘Boxed Up In Pine.’ It’s fundamentaly a pop song with a sustained percussive rhythm, clearer vocals, strong melody and a distinctive tribal ambience. ‘Wouldn’t You’ is a standout here as it ploughs another tribal path with hammond dominating, sister’s vocal in foreground and brother’s voice in the dim distance. It’s a mesmerising sound with a pace that allows one to stay connected.

Other standouts include the threatening Radiohead-esque ‘Seven Stories’, haunting desert sands vibe of ‘Light On Your Feet’, and the bouncing pop vibe of ‘Animal’ with its shrill guitar passages and rampant pace. Final bonus track ‘Ring Me, Elise’ ends the album on a high note with its superb drum and guitar passages, speeding pace, monster melody, and vibrant indie rock ambience. This record is full of adventure and, for a debut, is highly accomplished.

3.5/5