Album Review/ Lofi : Antaeus’s ‘Dreaming Dog’

Antaeus is a Grammy winning artist, musician and composer. His music is marked by vivid sensibilities. Instrumentals springing with imagery, frames, visuals, and emotions. The sound construction and craft is so refined and beautiful. Listening to his music is like travelling through it. You’ll see so many spectrums, continuums, all driving you towards something, something profound and beautiful. His latest release is ‘Dreaming Dog’, an instrumental album that combines neoclassicals with ambient scenes to create a profound space. A delightful freshness that makes you ruminate and think about things. It slows down the pace of time, of life and just puts you in a daydreaming haze. We see moments of jazz, blues, funk, all tying into a surreal scene. If you enjoy the music of FKJ, you’re sure to love this artist! 

The best thing about the album is its serenity. Whether it’s the textures, tones, ideas, or execution. Everything is so delightfully light and soothing. That unique idea meets the original expression. With refined design and elegant plays, he poses the best flows. Each track seems to try and capture/ interpret the state of a dog’s mind. Playful in some, curious, funky, engaging, exciting, sleepy. Nevertheless, each one of them is made soft and cozy. 

In ‘Back in Time’ we see a moving scene. Oozing and evocative. With deep vocals and soft tinkling instrumentals, the scene keeps on expanding into the night. ‘Beautiful Dog’ is more sunny, full of light and dynamism. The beats are funky. The vocals are glazed. With some middle-eastern grooves, the artist adds an interesting dimension to it. Warmth just spreads like wildflowers. 

‘Casablanca’ presents a chill atmosphere. Soft and fluid middle-eastern grooves flow through the scene. Like a cloth flying across an expansive space, ribboning and dancing. That simultaneity of movement and stillness is what you get with this track. In ‘Brand New Home’, we see a modern lofi composition. It bubbles with color and joy, with possibility and belongingness. ‘Central Park’ is made like a montage. It tinkles, sparkles, bursts, bubbles, shimmers, and swishes with scenes. 

In tracks like ‘My Best Friend’ and ‘Simon Says’, we see reggae influences, a chunky soothing flow that adds great value to the collection. It’s a nice interlude as we head into the dreamy electronic fantasies of ‘Mama Dog’, dance ambience of ‘Chillin in SOWETO’, and mellow tinkles of ‘There for You’. 

‘Dog Dreams’, ‘Peace in Chaos’ and ‘Euphoric Sleepy Time’ conclude the collection with their mellow, sleepy, and levelled ambience. It’s quite leveling and grounding, perfect to fall into the abyss with. Listen Now! 

The album is available for streaming on popular sites like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music! 

You can listen to ‘Dreaming Dog’ by Antaeus here -