dronefly - dronefly

Dronefly

Dronefly
Overlook Hotel Records; 2014

3.9 out of 5

By Samantha Kanne

I tend to like things a little more dramatic: heavy bass, dark melodies and the like. But Dronefly’s self-titled EP (already a slightly dramatic name) Dronefly has actually caught my attention. Based out of Phoenix, Dronefly started back in December 2011 in the lead vocalist Deanne Quijada’s home of California. Other members of the band include Mike Chambers on guitars, bass, Rhodes and synths and Kevin Hartnell on drums, percussion, mellotron, synths, guitars and bass as well.

The opening track “Closer” isn’t anything mind blowing (the good stuff is yet to come) but is an emotionally resonant song that displays Deanne Quijada’s incredible sounding voice. The song is covered in nostalgia and melancholy and sometimes feels as if it needs something a little extra added to it at points; some other sounds like a snappy bass line or harmonies or a change of sounds during a hook.

However the second track “Doldrums” ironically picks it up with that bass that I wished for earlier. “I swallowed a pill and called it life” is one of the more interesting and most poetic lyrics I’ve run into for a while. It’s thought provoking and makes you listen to the song even more. The music relies on a steady bass line that plays root notes while the guitars create an ambient atmosphere. 

“Joysticks” reminds me of Echo and the Bunnymen; and it’s only because of the neat liquid guitars. The final track “Forever Light” is a groovier track with a smooth lounge element to it. Quijada’s voice is smoky and buttery, gliding along with a great slow and calming synth riff.

All four of the songs on Dronefly’s album evoke a different vibe but they all so brilliantly coexist. This, to me, is a sure sign of a band that has potential. If they can convey all of their feelings and put it into one album without it sounding schizophrenic, there’s promise.

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