Album Review: Dragonflies - "Dragonflies"
The new collaboration between longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich and Beatle offspring Dhani Harrison is a curiosity but is more so for the completionists only.
Dragonflies is the newly formed project from Dhani Harrison and veteran producer / the "sixth Radiohead member" himself, Nigel Godrich. And if you heard Dhani's last name and wondered, then your hunch is correct. Dhani is the son of legendary Beatle George Harrison, and naturally hones a George-like singing style and voice. Godrich is most known for his production work and involvement in Radiohead over the years, as well as producing for artists like Beck, IDLES, Pavement (go Terror Twilight!), and the excellent Thom Yorke side project Atoms for Peace. If you love how Radiohead gets that signature sound or how Beck's Sea Change, Morning Phase, and Ride Lonesome (new album alert!) grab you by your ear holes, you have Godrich to thank. Dragonflies is an unlikely pairing but when listening to their self-titled debut album, the pairing sounds pretty natural. It features other veteran musicians who've collaborated with Godrich in the past, like Atoms for Peace percussionist Joey Waronker, Strokes guitarist Nick Valensi, and composer/arranger David Campbell.
Lead single "Slower" peaked my interest due to its slow pace, lush string arrangements, glitchy guitar, and Dhani's melancholy vocal delivery. There's a certain sound that Godrich has within his production style and once you've heard it, you know it. It's a melancholic, moody sound that's seemingly both heavy and airy at the same time. It's vivid, colorful, bright and dreamy. It's kind of hard to explain but if you know, you know. When you hear the piano stabs, you can picture them being played on a classic Radiohead ballad. When you hear those cinematic strings, you can picture them backing Beck on his acoustic, folkier output. The overall mixing and production on this album is solid, evoking all the things that Godrich does best in his work. What makes this album stand out is the production itself. When comparing other works from Godrich, though, I can't say this is some of his most memorable or notable work. It gets the job done, gets a passing grade without going the extra mile. When you're already familiar with his work, this one sounds heavily formulaic. These songs at their core aren't super memorable enough to leave a lasting impact. Sure, they're satisfying when they're on, but once the album finishes, I have a hard time remembering any key moments.
The songs themselves are decent. The grooves, synths, and bright melodies on "Setting Sun" make a highlight, along with "Slower" before it. The percussion on "Heart or Head" is satisfying, the electronics on "Ophelia" are colorful, and everything about "The Weight" is very Thom Yorke Eraser coded, including the falsetto singing. I do like Dhani's vocals overall, but I don't think they're sharp or compelling enough to hold my interest through a full-length album from start to finish. The production and instrumentation is consistent by Godrich standards. In comparison to, say, Sea Change or A Moon Shaped Pool, the instrumentation lacks in bite or charm. It's paint by numbers, which isn't a bad thing, but if you want to make a truly compelling album experience, this isn't the way to go in my opinion. Dragonflies is an enjoyable experience from Harrison and Godrich, but it is far from their best or most memorable material. If you're a Godrich completionist, then give Dragonflies a go. Otherwise, it's not a must listen for fans of either musician.
My Rating: 6 / 10
Favorite Songs: "Slower," "Setting Sun," "The Weight," "Ophelia"
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