Futuristic rock group Dopapod is at it again, playing masterful music on their fifth palindromic album release, Never Odd or Even. The album highlights the Northeast band’s ability as songwriters, dropping one sophisticated song after another. The album carries the listener through an odyssey of musical influences, dabbling in electronica, funk, rock, and everything in between.

Dopapod formed in Boston but generally calls the Northeast home. They have matured creatively since forming in 2007, performing and touring extensively while establishing their rich catalog. The band has had the opportunity to play a great deal of festivals, including Summer Camp, Electric Forest, Wakarusa, Peach Fest, and are currently playing alongside Umphrey’s McGee for a string of shows during their fall tour.

Never Odd or Even showcases the dynamic abilities of the Dopapod crew. As guitarist Rob Compa explains, “we really felt that the material this time around represented a big leap forward, not just in the way we’ve been interacting as a band, but in the way our focus has become sharper in paying attention to things like melody, theme, lyrical imagery, and structure – all the elements that make a great song.”

The album starts with the eight-minute “Present Ghosts,” an electro-funk musical journey that flows through several motif changes, grooving from a techno introduction to a pop-influenced verse section, before dropping into an ambient instrumental section led by keyboardist Eli Winderman. After some excellent guitarwork from Compa, the song concludes in energetic fashion.

With not a moment to spare, the funky bassline of “Picture In Picture” provides a quick transition into a new, exciting groove. Laden with space-age synthesizers and thick guitar, it’s a progressive metallic good time. Listen below:

Never Odd or Even certainly features its fair share of “futuristic” rock, synthesizer-and-guitar driven tunes, though the band begins to veer from their upbeat-funky nature on “FABA.” The slower tune opens to ornamental guitar picking, staying mellow before building to an exciting middle section. Throughout the entire 10-minute long composition, Dopapod show the mastery of their craft. The song is unrelenting; an endlessly intriguing musical soundscape.

The one stand-out track is a bluesy shuffle number called “Hey Zeus.” Abandoning their serious tone, the upbeat instrumental sounds like the backing track to a friendly hoedown. It’s a fast-paced, head-bobbing twang that even teases the riff of Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love,” ripping through those blues pentatonic scales like nobody’s business.

The album comes to a close with “The Upside of Down,” a more contemplative composition from Dopapod; a fantastic way to end Never Odd or Even.

All in all, throughout the hour of music featured, Never Odd or Even provides an all-encompassing listening experience. The music is intoxicating, with a futuristic groove captured by the interplay between spacey synthesizer and cutting guitar tone. The production on Never Odd or Even is top-notch, mixing the intricate tunes to perfection. Well done, Dopapod, enod llew.

Be sure to catch Dopapod, alongside Alan Evans’ Playonbrother and Teddy Midnight at The Gramercy Theatre on 11/21. More details here.