Looking Back at TAGABOW’s LOTTO

Desarey Elizondo 

Music Journalist 

Shoegaze and experimental noise band They are Gutting a Body of Water has become a powerhouse within the underground scene. What makes this band especially unique is their incorporation of breakcore and drum and bass elements, and I can’t think of another band even remotely similar to their sound. TAGABOW is a band I first discovered when I was in high school and have been listening to their music religiously since. I think the band has really outdone themselves after their latest album release, LOTTO. Each song is brimming with raw emotion and with clashing sounds that are somehow cohesive, yet it might just be their best album so far. 

Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, TAGABOW was originally a project formed by Douglas Dulgarian and has now expanded to include bassist Emily Lofing, guitarist PJ Carroll, and drummer Ben Opatut. They released their fourth studio album LOTTO in October of 2025, which has quickly become one of my favorite albums ever. My personal favorite track is “The Chase,” which is the first track on the album and one that really sets the tone for the rest of the songs. Aside from the gritty guitar riffs and overall catchy sound, the song includes a raw, spoken section with Dulgarian talking about the struggles of addiction and dealing with withdrawals. The next song, “Sour Diesel” takes a more melodic approach and leans into the softer side of shoegaze, including more reverb and dreamlike soundscapes. “American food” is another one of my favorite tracks and is representative of TAGABOW’s more electronic inspiration, and the final track on the album, “herpim,” starts off with a cool looping sample that abruptly stops before the main chorus steps in. The dark and hazy sound enhances the lyrics, which is about a pilot announcing to his passengers that the plane is running out of gas. The overall sound of this album is something mixed between Swirlies, My Bloody Valentine, and Slint, and critiques different aspects of society ranging from gambling addiction to drug withdrawals and the self-destructive mindset of always wanting more.  

Listening to the band live is an entirely different experience in and of itself. I was able to catch TAGABOW live twice last year, and both times were some of my favorite live shows I’ve been to. Their presence onstage is so magnetic, and both times the crowd was really active and moshed to the entire set. I was even able to get a poster signed by all of the members after one of their shows, but I digress. They are definitely a band to keep an eye out for if they happen to be playing a show in your area. TAGABOW will soon be on the road again for their tour, where I hope to catch them live again. There isn’t another band doing what TAGABOW is doing, and with no signs of slowing down, I can’t wait to see what else they will come up with in the future.