Bridge Dog : Auto Fictions

As usual, I forget where I first heard of Bridge Dogs. It could have been a YouTube recommendation or a Bandcamp tag. But the biggest source of information was the interview the band did with Yellowbelly When I listened to Auto Fictions, it reminded me of Korea Girl, ee, and Seam.

As a whole, Auto Fictions feels like the progression of this soundscape. The band tagged the album as dream pop, indie pop, indie rock, and shoegaze, and these are all accurate. The first two songs “Counterweight” and “Standard Issue” are simply comfortable and bring you into the band’s sound very easily.

One thing that sticks out is, I don’t think Bridge Dogs’ sound could be created by a South Korean band, I think it’s so distinctly influenced by the lived experience. A close Korean companion would be Swiimers, but their direction is a tangent. sunshy would be another similar band.

I listened through Auto Fictions multiple times and the album never got old. It’s has a timeless quality while also capturing a specific moment in time. I enjoy the indie pop songs, but will always favor a shoegaze song over them. “Memory Police” splits that line perfectly.

“SVU” is one of the most perfect dream pop, indie rock songs I’ve ever heard. It’s balanced perfectly and acts as a perfect reengagement track to prep for the end of the album. Auto Fictions is also a rare case where the slightly muted soundscape helps. Melodies are all clear but it sounds like there’s a layer between the music and the ear (which could be bad streaming quality) that gives Bridge Dog a blunt edge.

If there’s one issue, even though there are differences between songs, if you listen to Auto Fictions in the background, the album has groups of “sameness,” a highlight song, and then another set of “sameness.” It doesn’t happen when you’re paying attention, but it can make the album feel like an EP. It’s a personal observation.

I want more Bridge Dog. The band have a distinct sound that blends some of my favorite styles. I do hope that there’s more experimentation or at least one song that’s deep in shoegaze.