Dott - Heart Swell (2018)

Formed in early 2012, Irish indie quartet Dott tread the line between the sugary, handclap-filled melodies of early-'60s AM radio and the lo-fi fuzz of '90s garage punk. Based in Galway, the group is led by songwriter and guitarist Anna McCarthy with Miriam Donohue also on guitar, Laura Finnegan on bass, and Tony Higgins on drums. In the summer of 2012, following the release of their debut EP, Button, through Dublin's Popical Island Collective, Dott began touring the Irish and U.K. festival circuits and also made their U.S. debut in New York. Their catchy distorted pop songs caught the attention of American indie Graveface Records, which signed the group later that year. In late 2013, Dott released their debut LP, Swoon. ~ Timothy Monger