It’s rare that a band can truly be described as unique and genre- bending, and yet Dorp truly defy categorisation and transcends today’s music fan’s expectations of what music can be about. Combining melodies, pop sensibilities, lashings of electronica, lyrical satire and sheer rock power, Dorp’s creativity is astounding.
Indeed the quartet’s artistic endeavours are as diverse as their geographic origins (two of the band are from Cape Town, one from Paris and the other from the heart of London).
Despite only settling in the UK’s capital a few short years ago (the band’s inception was in frontman Piet Bez’s native South Africa), the quartet have already developed into a startling proposition. And the fruits of their labour can be witnessed on their debut album, ‘Humans Being’.
Recorded at the personal studio of Flood – the internationally renowned producer who’s worked with U2 and PJ Harvey amongst many others - ‘Humans Being’ was produced by Dave McCracken (Ian Brown, Depeche Mode), and is an album that takes the listener on an epic voyage. This is not an album full of throwaway bubblegum packaged around two or three key hit singles, this is music for fans of the true musical greats of modern music.
Indeed critics have been truly challenged to pigeonhole the band’s sound - Kerrang Magazine likened them to Placebo, NME to Muse, Classic Rock to Fischerspooner and Depeche Mode, Rocksound to Portishead and Big Cheese to Bjork and NiN! Proof, if it was needed, that the quartet are forging a path of rare intelligence and diverse inspiration.
The same could also be said for their political and social intent, as highlighted in the lyrical content of the ‘Humans Being’ album. Spanning everything from anti-consumerism (‘Extreme’), to the cult of celebrity (‘A List’), via the hypocrisy of our political and judicial system (‘Cops & Robbers’) to the ubiquitous span of media manipulation (‘Pigs Do Fly’) – Dorp have taken a long hard look at the world today and formed some pretty virulent opinions.
This observational approach to the world is also reflected in the album title itself. As Piet explains: “It’s a play on today’s society and its humans being whatever you can imagine. Humans being crazy, humans being obese, humans being angry at war, humans being happy; it encompasses everything. A lot of the songs are just social commentary so we thought the title would go well.”
Socially charged they may be, but nowhere does the focus and fire of their material make more sense than in the live arena. With what can only be described as a ‘throbbing’ intensity, Dorp’s multi faceted sound simply explodes into life on stage. Drawing equally from infectious melody and hip grinding groove, they exude an authority that few bands possess.
And it isn’t just the music and lyrics that sidesteps tired clichés – the band’s approach to connecting with their audience has a distinctly post-millenial edge too.
Much of 2008 has been taken up with visiting music colleges throughout the UK and hosting music industry seminars for the attendant students. Dorp are helping to arm a new generation of music lovers and creators with the tools necessary to thrive in a notoriously rapidly evolving industry. These college ‘events’ see the band engage in discussion groups covering all aspects of the ‘Biz’ before launching into a live set that demonstrates what passion, integrity and hardwork can really do!
“I think there is something different on this album that breaks the mould a bit and also the whole album is an experience,” concludes Piet. “All the songs have been re-tailored to be on this album - it’s not a bunch of random songs. Each song is carefully chosen, it’s not an album of pop songs, there are songs that take time to digest, songs that have dark edges to them, all of which we feel gives this album real shelf life.”
Humans being creative, adventurous and artistic? That’d be the four guys in Dorp.
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