With earphones on, ‘Daffodil’ from Melburnian Dull Reality – the solo work of Ben Shields – positively bubbles and snaps from one side of your head to the other – syncopated, arpeggiated popping sonics that massage, confuse and delight the ears. Over the top, Shields’s voice glides, swoops and circulates with melody: a contrapuntal force against the seemingly random sounds being generated below. It’s a fabulous melange – I am reminded of the electronic muscle and dynamism of Cabaret Voltaire mixed with the yearning pop sensibilities of The Beloved (in my view one of the most underrated bands of the nineties).
‘Daffodil’ is the title track off Dull Reality’s freshly announced EP, due out on 26 August 2021. You can get the single and pre-order the track through the link below.
Feature Photograph: Emily Shields
