Four clicks of the drumsticks and Dave, the fifth single from Pet Lounge begins. Listening to the fifth single from an album made me immediately stifle my expectations. Typically, singles tend to be the punchiest and most impactful tracks - but after already expending half the album, I wasn't sure what to expect.

However, Dave begins without hesitation, with vocals, accompanied by a reserved electric guitar, immediately driving the track forward. Every sound is meticulously intentional. Guy Page harnesses his decades of experience recording to ensure every single piece of composition of this track is doing what it’s supposed to.

Guy Page from Pet Lounge and Coach Party Dave Single Release, Picture by Stephanie Norris

Sonically, the song is well balanced, with gritty guitar sounds matched against clean vocals. The instruments feel like modern rock punk, but every layer of singing felt nostalgic to the early 2000s grunge. The track is very busy – but a mixture of mixing and ensuring everything is working harmoniously from a dynamic perspective prevents the track from being overwhelming. Every few bars a new layer is added, and it captivates listener interest.

I love the chorus. Kicking in at the 00:30 second mark, a short, punchy chorus with vocals taking an extra step in power to break the song up – it’s yet again another demonstration of Guy Page’s competency as a composer.

‍

The sections of this song are varied, despite having a very distinct sound.  It could easily be too repetitive, but instead you’re continually discovering different sounds and instrumental responsibilities. Towards the end of the song there’s a guitar solo that occupies less than two bars – a quick flash of musicianship without overpowering and ultimately deducting from the overall synergy of the track.

For decades Guy Page has been responsible for creating masterful tracks in his studio. With full responsibility of the musical build up, Dave by Pet Lounge is yet again another example of his extreme proficiency as a musical craftsman.

‍