England isn’t exactly known for producing top-notch emo groups, but then again Dartz! is more of a fusion band; but not some jazz-rock fusion (though Bitches Brew is pretty great). Sounding like the bastard child of American Football and Test Icicles, the drunk and buoyant emo-dance-punk on This Is My Ship is absolutely infectious. It is really really fucking good. This Is My Ship takes familiar elements and combines them in a way that is hard to describe but easy to fall in love with. There are the typical dance-inspired hi-hats that mingle right alongside the circular melodic guitar lines in a way that just makes me want to get up and move (and I’m not much of a dancer). It is a raucous and off-kilter I-don’t-give-a-shit free for all full of catchy hooks and dynamically spiky new-wave-emo-something-for-everyone. There are pretty parts; there are sassy parts and despite the fusion tag I’ve applied to it, This Is My Ship may be just about as close to the traditional Midwest emo sound as the British can come, but if so I’m certainly more than OK with that. Get a copy now from Deep Elm.

MP3 | Dartz! – St. Petersburg This Is My Ship
MP3 | Dartz! – Once, Twice, Again! This Is My Ship

Related posts:

1. Review: Smoke Or Fire – This Sinking Ship (or) fighting to make it over the james
2. Review: Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves – Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves
3. Review: Against Me! – New Wave
4. Review: The Sound Of Animals Fighting – Lover, The Lord Has Left Us
5. Review: Parts And Labor – Stay Afraid (or) on the couch writhing in pain