With more than 20 years experience of writing, performing and releasing music, Darren Doherty returns with new release Darksides – a concise, well crafted 4 track EP. Clocking in at 16 minutes, the Northern Irish artist resists any temptations to indulge in the meanderings of his early prog influences.
This measured approach to the EP is evident from the get go, with opening track ‘R.S.V.P.’ launching straight into a 4 to the floor beat accompanied by subtle synth, before an eerie melodic picked electric guitar line drives the song on. The production is subtle, with every constituent part of the track appearing to be sculpted meticulously. The refrain ‘god thinks it’s a laugh to prey on your mistakes’ provides the most satisfying line of the whole EP. The opening track feels like it is searching for a crescendo or satisfying conclusion that doesn’t quite appear, but nonetheless, it is a strong statement of intent to open proceedings.
Second track ‘…extraterrestrials’ finds the artist setting up camp in the indie pop rock woods, and proving himself to be more than comfortable in this environment. This track would sound right at home on a release by indie pop royalty The Postal Service, with a hook that satisfies long after the song has concluded. This sounds like an artist with the shackles off, having fun, and just the right side of earnest lyrically.
‘Violence’ is next up – a defiant track appearing to summon courage within to escape a toxic relationship. The dark subject matter is juxtaposed with meditative acoustic guitar picking and soothing ethereal synths. While the melody is enjoyable, the song doesn’t quite commit to a style, with a slight kitchen sink approach to the arrangement lessening its impact.
The EP closes with title track ‘Darksides’ which boasts a strong melody, however, the song is slightly hampered by an overly complicated arrangement and production. Given the strong melodies throughout the EP, it would be gratifying to see the artist have more confidence in more subtle arrangements to compliment the solid songwriting.
Thematically throughout the EP, there is a sense of growing acceptance of self, with the artist himself claiming that he feels like this EP is a rebirth of sorts. Whilst the lyrics may be somewhat on the nose throughout the 4 tracks, there is no denying the confidence in the delivery of the Jungian message: we must accept the darkness within in order to fully realise the light.
