Self-described “drum ’n’ drone” trio Dinowalrus were a staple of the late-’00s Brooklyn scene that, unfortunately, can best be attributed to the no-longer-standing DIY venues that such artists once frequented (otherwise maybe it could be defined by goofy band names like “Dinowalrus”). After cranking out a few more records in the mid 2010s, the band petered out during the pandemic era only to recently re-emerge more vigorous than ever with a new lineup backing founding frontman Pete Feigenbaum on a slate of singles that veer away from psychedelic drone influences toward a more contemporary grunge and shoegaze revivalism.
The latest in these singles—which, tellingly, have been mastered by Darkside’s Dave Harrington or Kim Gordon collaborator Sarah Register—“Light Rain” is a forgotten B-side dusted off for the band’s new set of influences, which include DIIV and Slowdive. Taking additional inspiration from the desert landscapes of the American Southwest, the new track is a driving, psychedelic jam that balances the repetition of its rhythm section with wild guitar solos. “I was really keen to just build up some droning synths and space-rock echoes and let them ride at a pace suited to desert psych-rock,” Feigenbaum shares. “I’m also a huge Echo and the Bunnymen fan, and this moody, anthemic darkwave aesthetic from this earlier ’80s era always weaves its way into our music, almost as a check/balance when we think we are getting too exuberant!”
Regarding the song’s lyrics—and the accompanying music video they inspired, which features footage of the band performing on sand dunes intercut with rain-drenched scenes lit like a Nicolas Winding Refn movie—he continues: “In some ways, ‘Light Rain’ is about how major life changes are often very subtle at first, then hit a tipping point where cascading catastrophes all come down at once. I think the video captures this emotionally—and meteorologically!”
Check out the video below, and listen to all of the band’s recent material here.
