It’s somewhat daunting to review something so intentionally provocative and hedonistic like the music of The Dare, the pseudonym of New York-based musician Harrison Patrick Smith. His work is a revival of the genre “indie sleaze”, a hipster style and subculture that includes artists like LCD Soundsystem and The Rapture, and aesthetically mixes 70s punk fashion with the unapologetic tackiness of early 2000s pop culture. I remember hearing his first single, 2022’s “Girls”, and being taken aback by how loose and unrestrained it was, for better or for worse, with its electroclash synths, and Smith’s aggressive loud-mouthed personality. Part of The Dare’s appeal (or turnoffs, depending on who you ask), is the way his music celebrates being raunchy and trashy in a way that makes it fun and inviting. Though I’d say his persona is done with enough of a wink to let you know it’s an ironic character rather than a genuine reflection of Smith himself. If it were more sincere, it likely would have impacted his growing success Last year, he released The Sex EP and recently opened for Yves Tumor and Charli XCX, also collaborating with the latter on “guess”, a bonus track on her monstrously successful new album brat.
The Dare’s new single, “Perfume”, is a teaser for his debut album What’s Wrong With New York?, to be released on September 6th of this year. It continues the sound of his previous work, with vocals still sounding like a snottier James Murphy and heavy techno beats, but it’s remarkable how Smith balances being in-your-face while also being charismatic and likable. “Perfume” is a lot of the same rave-worthy indie sleaze that listeners would come to expect from The Dare, but it shows him growing into a more developed and confident sound that breaks down the barriers between punk and dance music. It begins with a similar drum machine club pattern of “Girls” or “Good Time”, but quickly becomes an entirely different beast with heavy guitars, glitchy percussion, and pulsating synthesizers. It’s only two-and-a-half minutes, but it stays a complete blast throughout, succeeding as another song by The Dare that encapsulates all the best parts of a riotous late-night club atmosphere. Considering that he only has 5 released songs to his name so far, all consistent quality, I’m eager to see where his career will go next.
