Album Review: Dope Lemon – Smooth Big Cat

Dope Lemon strikes again with the aptly named record Smooth Big Cat. Opening singles Hey You and Salt & Pepper are a warm introduction to the album with Angus Stone’s voice both whispering and speaking on top of a mellow lead line. While the album may not provide the same echo-like experimentation on the vocal and instrument mix of his earlier work, it still showcases the same relaxing persona of old. Hey Little Baby showcases a light iteration of acoustic guitar while Lonely Boys Paradise stands out as a slightly louder staple track, fading out smoothly.

Give Me Honey slightly filters Angus Stone’s voice. Dope & Smoke continues on with the sombre coastal folk-rock imagery where you can picture the sand running between your feet.

This is an album that will have people picking up acoustic guitars for the foreseeable future. It’s layered yet simplistic, creating a relaxing vibrancy. The Midnight Slow adds trebly guitar sounds while Mechanical Bull is dowsed by deep, bassy, quiet vocals. In the closing monologue track Hey Man, Don’t Look At Me Like That, Stone tells a story over what can be described as a one-take phone recording. A phone recording might not be the traditional way to end an album, but it’s the right flavour of passion from Dope Lemon, providing a homey simplicity.