Ditch Pigeon’s new EP Piss Nonetheless is an unforgettable introduction to a band that defies categorization. Rather than operating within a specific genre, Ditch Pigeon keeps multiple modes on a string, orchestrating moods and shaping their songs like a puppet master with each approach on a string. Some bands avoid sounding derivative by switching up from song to song – Ditch Pigeon combines multiple elements at different times, in different combinations, to create a cohesive, impactful sound wholly their own.

The EP begins with a “bitxhn new tune” [sic] that attacks with a punchy, thunderous rhythm section. The bass and drums push underneath ethereal vocals, atmospheric guitar, and spoken word. The combination is grounding, and rather than transporting the listener it orients our ears to the immediacy of the sound.

The second track, “hayley’s comet” employs a snare sound reminiscent of early DJ Shadow, hinting at influences of dance culture and hip-hop. Gentle keys widen the contrast but lean into softly wavering vocals. The drum/bass combo frequently pushes the band toward metal, but transforms into a low-fi hip-hop foundation in “unseen.” An attachment narrative plays out most clearly in this track through poetic fragments of lonesome imagery and celestial cycles: “the sun will set, the moon will shine.” Once again the bass and drums are impeccably tight on“this dying fate,” which returns to disequilibrium with a screaming monster accompanying Hayley Anne’s lyrics and lofty keys. The dynamics change with subtle shifts in tempo and really nice 16th notes in unison. 

The penultimate track, “Super Psycho Punk Song,” is a playfully righteous call to arms. Juxtapose this with “shhboink,” a nearly 9-minute shoegaze meander untying the knot tied by the previous songs. The bass and drums lay back to emphasize an evocative and familiar emo arpeggio. Hayley Anne’s beautiful voice is more dynamic and fragile, and she disappears long before this sprawling song is over. This sincere movement toward the sublime perfectly caps off the EP’s narrative arc. The final cathartic moments render a sonic landscape where the horizon is lost in the snow, plain and forever beyond reach. 

Ditch Pigeon is a remarkably talented trio with the skill and courage to follow their impulses. It’s like five bands for the price of one, with a coherent narrative dynamic enough to demand it.  As a result, Piss Nonetheless feels theatrical, exploratory, and fully realized.