My first introduction to The Darcys was their full album cover of Steely Dan’s ‘Aja’, which was the second album of a trilogy of LPs that includes The Darcys [2011] and ‘Warring’, which got its U.K. release on Monday (24 March).
The Trilogy finishes on an extremely strong note then. The record gets off to a cracking start with ‘Close to Me’ and varies it’s sound and pace throughout. Second song ‘Hunting’ is a prime example of all that just in one song.
To reach a comparison if the Darcy’s are new to you, I would venture into the territory of The Stills, Liars and Wild Beasts. The Darcys themselves hail from Toronto and are comprised of Jason Couse [vocals, guitar, keys], Wes Marksell [drums], Michael le Riche [guitar, synth, vocals] and Dave Hurlow [bass].
The album was written over three years and recorded in Toronto during the final six months of 2012. So the album was released to our cousins across the pond last year, now it’s our turn to enjoy.
Back to that change of pace, mid album comes ‘The Pacific Theatre’ a delicate piano ballad and dreamy song, whist later on, ‘Pretty Girls’ is an epic of Arcade Fire proportions.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting album; the live show (last seen at SXSW) should be pretty cool as well, now the band is three albums old. Let’s hope they return to our shores soon.
Pete
9/11
1. Close to Me
2. Hunting
3. Horses Fell
4. Itchy Blood
5. The Pacific Theater
6. The River
7. Pretty Girls
8. 747s
9. Muzzle Blast
10. Lost Dogfights