Dotsero: West of Westchester

From retro-soul to modern-urban soundscape, Dotsero-guitarist David Watts, saxophonist Stephen Watts and bassist Michael Friedman-offers its hooks with a twist on West of Westchester. Produced by Russ Freeman, the album boasts a sharp, fizzy sound atypical for the genre. The “something different,” promised with the band’s name, appears in elements like Kip Kuepper’s retro-keyboard solo on the percolating soundscape “Lodo Mojo,” plucky Asian effects combined with smooth-as-glass guitar work on “When We’re Together” and a prickly, high-hitting sax melody on a cover of Bob James’ “Westchester Lady.” These extra details create additional layers of interest and help make the music memorable. Freeman himself gets into the fray, lending a spindly acoustic solo to the otherwise straightforward, island-ballad piece “Staring at the Ceiling,” the album’s least funky entry. Stephen Watts’ sax proves a compelling lead voice throughout, offering more hook than flash on tunes ranging from the midclip “Welcome Home” to the percolating “Lodo Mojo,” featuring some tightly cornered riffs.

Originally Published March 1, 2001