Darkstar - Hd7 - VINYL LP

Darkstar return with their fourth album 'Civic Jams' on 15th May. On their most personal record to date, Darkstar counterbalance observations of their home with those of the community surrounding it. 'Civic Jams' is a photonegative of a dance record shaped by a dialogue between shoegaze atmospherics and UK bass music's 'hardcore continuum'. Darkstar find themselves at once looking homeward and venturing further into their own psychic hinterland with each record. They've covered a lot of ground from the introspective expanse of their debut 'North' [2010], to utopian visions of society in 'News From Nowhere' [2013] and the unique dynamics of a pre-Brexit northern England on 'Foam Island' [2015]. On their latest offering, home is within reach. Inspired by the intervening years, Darkstar (aka Aiden Whalley and James Young) show how the personal can be political and reveal more of themselves than they've ever done before. Imagine emotional realism built from spectral rave echoes, anchored in timeless songs of love and loss in the digital now and you've got

A photonegative of a dance record shaped by a dialogue between shoegaze atmospherics and UK bass music's 'hardcore continuum'. We've tried to look at the juxtaposition of being comfortable in an often claustrophobic era of unrest both politically and culturally. Tangible space is where this album focuses - it's about having the last warning on a tax bill and going to a rave. It's resigned to having a drink while Brexit blares out in the background. Being able to enjoy the sun while another 0845 number rings out on your mobile for god knows what. We wanted to look at singling out those moments when you balance the everyday fuckery you find yourself in with being in a place or a community that resonates with you and eases the burden. We've trivially written about debt, F**k it, think about it tomorrow. Explored Brex-IN rather than Brex-IT, imagine joining rather than leaving. Observed how comforting it is having a local to take the edge off while you chat S**t to your mate and tried articulating if all of this was any different - would it be as graceful?A1. Wolf (John Talabot's Euphoric Remix)A2. Wolf (Loraine James Remix)B1. Jam (Parris Remix)B2. Jam (Horsepower Productions Remix)B3. Wolf (John Talabot's Materia Dub)

Foam Island, the third studio LP from Darkstar, is a beautiful contemporary electronic pop album, dealing with powerful themes of ambition and hope against the odds in the 21st century. Following collaborations with the likes of Actress, Wild Beasts and Zomby, and taking cues from peers such as Jon Hopkins and Four Tet, it is an ambitious record, buzzing with the energy and excitement of all the possibilities inherent in electronic music in 2015. Yet it is also one which has been shaped by the prevailing social and political climate at this point in time. As such the record is in parts severe and beautiful; combining hard digital rhythms and live percussion with colorful synthesizers, treated vocals and enveloping compositions.