When a band describes themselves as surf punk, it usually conjures a certain image. Reverb drenched guitars, sunburnt melodies, maybe even a sense of looseness that leans more carefree than chaotic. Dashed doesn’t really fit that mold. On their self-titled LP, they take those familiar elements and run them through something colder, sharper, and far less predictable.
Across eleven tracks, Dashed feels less like a revival of surf punk and more like a mutation of it. The jangly choruses are there, sure, but they’re surrounded by wiry guitar lines, off kilter rhythms, and an undercurrent of tension that keeps everything from settling into something comfortable. There’s a clear thread connecting them to bands like Drive Like Jehu and Wipers but not in direct sound, but in that same restless energy, where melody and abrasion constantly push against each other.
The dual guitars play a big role in that dynamic. One moment they lock into something almost catchy, the next they splinter into jagged, angular lines that feel like they’re pulling the song apart from the inside. It’s controlled, but barely. It’s like the band is always hovering just on the edge of losing the thread. Then there’s the weirdness.
The use of the craziest instrument ever - theremin, is scattered throughout the record. This could easily come off as a gimmick, but here it adds an unexpected layer of unease. It creeps into the mix rather than dominating it, bending the atmosphere just enough to make an already off-balance song feel even stranger. Combined with touches of organ and synth, it gives this release a slightly warped, almost sci-fi undercurrent. This is fitting for a band that seems just as influenced by Man or Astro-man? as they are by punk’s more abrasive edges.
Vocally, the record leans into that same tension. The delivery isn’t overly polished or traditionally melodic, but feels conversational at times, strained at others. This works because it matches the instability of the music. There’s a sense that everything is slightly off, intentionally so. That approach does come with tradeoffs. The album’s looseness and willingness to veer off course can make it feel uneven in spots. Some tracks hit immediately, while others take longer to reveal themselves, and a few never fully lock in the way you expect them to. But even in those moments, there’s enough personality to keep things interesting because I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a band that sounds just like this one.
Recorded and handled entirely in-house at Minnehaha Recording Company, the production fits the band perfectly. It’s clear without being polished, leaving enough grit and space for the rough edges to come through. What Dashed does best is carve out its own lane. It’s not clean enough to be traditional surf punk, not chaotic enough to be full noise rock, and not straightforward enough to sit comfortably in either world. There’s even hints of post hardcore in this record. It’s literally all over the place but it works. It’s a jangly, messy, and just a little unhinged record that I’m really digging.
