The title track of Plaid Dragon’s first EP, “Dog Physics” is one of those songs that feels like the musical equivalent of a soft, heavy blanket being wrapped around you. A subdued finger-picked acoustic guitar guides the track throughout, backed by ambient melodies and slide guitar for added texture. The Springfield, Missouri-based five-piece refer to their sound as “lullaby rock” on their Bandcamp page and while there’s no denying the lullaby-ic nature of “Dog Physics”, the song is more along the lines of dreamy folk than rock. Just short of three minutes in, however, electric guitars burst into a brief flurry of sound somewhat reminiscent of Explosions in the Sky, then fade away to bring the track back to its relaxed pace.
The lyrics equally add to the warmth of the song, conveying a reassuring bond of trust and understanding with lines like “I will keep your secret safe” and “I will speak your language.” It’s anyone’s guess what exactly “dog physics” are but lead singer Inge Chiles muses that she will teach them for the song’s intended recipient. Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter if we know what she means. The song is so sentimental and intimate feeling that she could sing just about any kind of nonsense over the instrumentation and it would likely still seem relatable and comforting. Chiles’ voice has a somewhat child-like quality to it that only further enhances this.
This tune very much calls to mind ’90s alternative dream-weavers Mazzy Star but with a modern, nature-focused, indie-folk twist. Regardless of who or what you want to compare the song to, it is definitely a beautifully layered, airy escape. Plaid Dragon are working on their first full-length release and if “Dog Physics” is any indication of what’s to be expected, it should be a terrific debut album.