Mauds Dog – Not Tonight
Intertwining soaring guitars with harmonic vocals in an acoustic soundscape to warm your soul, and you have Mauds Dog. A relatively new project with only two singles to their belt; however, the duo is anything but a minnow in the sonic pool of sharks. Singer-songwriters Jackie Pryce and Mark Fisher have the experience of established artists, an understanding of music, and that altogether knowing that seems to come as years pass. Ranging from heavy metal to cabaret jazz, the 80s duo saunter through a jazz-inspired folk sound adding raw vulnerability to sophisticated maturity.
Following their debut single ‘Pebble Beach’, Pryce and Fisher eagerly delve into human emotion with their sophomore track ‘Not Tonight’. While ‘Pebble Beach’ reflected on “loss and warm memories…”, ‘Not Tonight’ reaches into the grittier, vulnerable, more delicate side of human fragility. Mauds Dog explains:
“This song reflects on human compassion, strength, love, hope and dedication as we witness one person caring for another through dementia. Jackie watched her mum and dad go through this which is why we wrote the song.”
The theme itself is profound and heartbreaking, but the melody enhances the significance of the poetic lyricism. Retaining the barebones simplicity of a folk ballad, Pryce’s rich vocals twirl alongside Fisher’s gentle guitar; but, as gentle as the rhythmic tune is, its soothing captures a lilt of tragedy within a minimalistic sound. Interestingly, just as the acoustic song pierces your heart with its starkness, the waves of sound send kaleidoscopic rushes of music past your ears.
‘Pebble Beach’ used the soft sound of an ocean lapping in the background to enhance the theme’s intimacy, and in ‘Not Tonight’ there is a particular element to highlight the rawness of its powerful message. An abrupt, sudden and deafening end – like it just cuts like a painful end to its life. I loved ‘Pebble Beach’ and ‘Not Tonight’ is exciting, what can we expect from Mauds Dog in the future? I’m sure it’ll be amazing.
Find out more about Mauds Dog on their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
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