To Blank Dogs’ credit, I racked my brain for comparisons to this one-man-band, if only for my own indulgence, and came up with nothing. Maybe there’s someone I overlooked or am unaware of, but even then I think it’s safe to say that the band is unique. After several listens I still can’t pin down exactly what Blank Dogs are.

Under the Blank Dogs handle, Mike Sniper likes to use electronic flourishes, sometimes bordering on straight electronica. Murky bossanova guitar riffs supplement the electronics to create a contrasting mood. The vocals are the driving force behind the project’s uniqueness. Sniper delivers them deadpan, and ridiculously hard, with only the slightest hint of hooks or melodies.

There are only four songs, spread over sixteen and a half minutes, so there’s not a lot of time to familiarize yourself with the band. “Heat & Depression” kicks off the EP with elongated electronic rhythms and layered vocals that seem like they’re poking at a dead animal—half-hearted, almost mumbled, but darkly engaging with a surprising replay value. “Blurred Tonight” is nearly five minutes long, yet Blank Dogs has no interest in making a lengthy song breathable. He pounds the same riff the whole time, as well as the same vocal melody. About four minutes in the repetition becomes familiar and the song sinks in. The twisty guitar riff that highlights the song (you’ll know it when you hear it) it is a welcome addition when it appears with its undeniable catchiness. “Racing Backwards” takes a shorter but similar approach. A lot of the song’s work lies in its recurring guitar riff, but the vocals become bland under the production and contribute little to the track, making it mostly forgettable. “End of Summer” sounds video game-esque with its electronic stabs, bringing to mind a badly pixilated motocross game. Again, the vocals are overly muddled, killing the track’s deadpan vibe. After the solid work of the first two tracks, the second half of the EP fails to maintain a similar level of quality.

Despite the strong start of the first couple songs, Phrases is unable to make any lasting impact on the listener. It’s hard to gather enough from the release to rouse excitement for Sniper’s next full length. I’d advise more deadpanning and twisting guitar riffs, but Blank Dogs has quite a bit to prove.

Track List:
1. Heat & Depression
2. Blurred Tonight
3. Racing Backwards
4. End of Summer