Scottish singer songwriter Dot Allison is probably best known for her time fronting the indie dance band One Dove back in the early nineties. However, Allison has produced some absolutely stellar solo albums as well as collaborating with the likes of Massive Attack, Paul Weller and Peter Doherty. Most recently she contributed vocals to the latest Mark Peters album, Red Sunset Dreams which I covered here on the blog. So, it is only fitting that following that release on Sonic Cathedral her new solo album should also be released by the acclaimed indie label.
Consciousology finds multi-instrumentalist Dot joined by the London Contemporary Orchestra, her new labelmate Andy Bell from Ride, who plays guitar on two tracks, and Hannah Peel, who is responsible for some of the string arrangements with both the LCO and a stellar group of Scottish string players. On the inspiration for this albums themes and sound she has this to say.
“I wanted to make some albums that felt like a set, exploring love, what lies beyond the visible and how all these aspects dovetail together. For me, it is an imagined voice of a conscious universe expressed through music. I see Consciousology as a more psych Heart-Shaped Scars with a fuller, more immersive
sound and so, in that sense, it’s a more wayward, bolder, rule-breaking partner.”
“It’s a plea, an embrace, a longing, a last-gasp, perhaps, imbued through the music, voice, harmony and a harmonic composition, with the lyrics taking an interest in the differing levels of consciousness apparent in all self-organising, natural systems. It takes a less mechanistic, inanimate but more infinitely complex view of the nature of reality and how feelings of love and loss – and consciousness itself – are potentially less ‘molecular’ in nature and more electromagnetic.”
Let’s hit play and explore this musical universe Allison has created for us.
The album opens on the bucolic ‘The Shyness of Crowns’. The strings reminiscent of the great Robert Kirby and his work with the late, great Nick Drake. Whilst there is a very definite folk direction, the track is punctuated with some glorious electronica making this something else altogether. Add to that Allison’s gentle tones weaving around the mix in the most delightful way (headphones are a must!) and you have a devastating opener.
We segue neatly into ‘Unchanged’ the opening picked out chords again bringing our minds back to Nick Drake. It isn’t long until the song opens up into a soaring, uplifting chorus which takes us away on a driving rhythm to the heavens. There’s something colourful about this melody. Like a rainbow coming from the hearts of the musicians.
Things are stripped back to the bone on ‘Bleached By The Sun’. The song leaves me breathless each time I listen to it. I don’t know whether it’s Allison’s harmony singing or the sumptuous strings arrangement, punctuating the song in key moments. This is such impactful song writing, like when she pleads “Don’t give up on us yet, there is more that can be”. Gets me every time.
Allison’s voice really comes to the fore on ‘Moon Flowers’. Voice, guitar and lilting strings lead us into this evolution of a song. The strings, again, are so cleverly used to perfection. Adding the emotional punch at just the right moments. Like hanging tinsel on a Christmas tree. The tree is already beautiful, as is this song. The strings pick out the changes and just draw your attention to how well defined they are. The modular approach to the construction of the track draws my mind to Smile by The Beach Boys but it’s so much more.
We take a sharp detour into Kosmische territory next on ‘220Hz’ (the frequency at which tree roots communicate beneath the ground in the ‘wood wide web I’m reliably informed). The synth pads and atmospherics creating an ambient playground for our ears. The strings and Allison’s voice dance merrily around creating a heady tone poem, a punctuation mark in the midst of the album. This had me smiling from the get go.
‘Double Rainbow’ dials us back into that nu folk sound with strange and eerie electronica piercing through from time to time. To achieve this, Allison actually recorded the electrical activity in a plant which was then translated into pitch variations. You feel like you’re lying in a blooming meadow staring at a summer sky. There’s been a transportive quality to the songs on this album that sharply comes into focus here. That, for me, is the sign of a master of their craft.
We head into a soporific and imagination sparking lullaby next. ‘Milk and Honey’ has that cinematic quality that makes you certain you’ve heard it in on a movie soundtrack somewhere. It’s when the voice and gently picked guitar blooms into the strings and piano opening up an aural vista that’s nothing short of stunning!
‘Mother Tree’ continues that exploration of the natural world that is the underpinning thread in all these songs. The drums in particular eschew the constraints of standard time and explore the song, providing another unique element to enjoy. This is perhaps the most sparsely arranged track so far but Allison’s vocal performance fills every nook and cranny.
The album closes out on relatively straight forward arrangement of ‘Weeping Roses’. Like a classic Laurel Canyon number but given that unique spin that only Dot Allison can. This is up there with Joni Mitchell and Carole King.
Consciousology is one of those albums that just consumes you. Every song is its own carefully constructed galaxy in the universe of the album. The juxtaposition between that traditional acoustic folk aesthetic and the more forward leaning trip hop sound we know Allison for is so refreshing. The production has placed each instrument wide across the sound stage, defining each sound and giving them room to be. It is reminiscent of Nigel Godrich’s best work (Beck’s era defining Sea Change) in that respect.
These songs feel like they could’ve been around for fifty years or more yet at the same time, sound like they’ve just landed from space. That is testament to the intricacy and skilfulness of the songwriter.
Consciousology is out July 28 2023 on Sonic Cathedral. You can grab a copy on digital, limited edition orange vinyl or CD from Bandcamp. You can also grab an exclusive Dinked Edition copy on vinyl from all the usual indie retailers. This comes on “Flax flower” blue vinyl with exclusive alternative sleeve artwork and a 12” art print signed by Dot.
You can follow Dot Allison on social media here….
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