Dot Dash: Winter Garden Light

Dot Dash is band full of people who grew up in the fertile soil of of D.C.’s pop, punk and mod scenes, including former members of Juilie Ocean, Glo-Worm and Youth Brigade. Moving confidently forward from their loose, garage-y 2011 debut spark>flame>ember>ash, Winter Garden Light has clearly benefited from a few extra hours in the studio. The album plays like a pocket history of indie guitar rock with some jangle here, a Fugazi bass lick there and walls of sizzling shoegaze feedback everywhere — all to wonderful effect. After a few collective decades in the music business, it’s no surprise that, lyrically, Dot Dash is focusing on time, aging and finding purpose on wistful numbers like “Writing On The Wall” and “Faraway”. It truly is a winter album, with lyrical themes tailor made for the reflection and meditation that winter’s darkness provides, yet still full of rich warm sound to insulate against the chill. Far from a slump, Dot Dash’s sophomore outing expands and deepens the band’s already-rewarding sound.