The Darlingtons
Don't Give Me Hope
November 25, 2013 (self-release)
8.5/10
Following on from
September's excellent live EP, Who Says There's No Beach in
Doncaster? Taunton's The
Darlingtons
are back with new single 'Don't Give Me Hope' and it's B-side
'Contagious/Courageous'. As I mentioned in an earlier review, there's
an air of melancholy that permeates the band's optimism, a kind of
relatable miserabilia that manages never to feel cloying, and is, at
times, adds to the inherently uplifting nature of their music. With
'Don't Give Me Hope' however, that seems to have fallen by the
wayside in what serves to be one of the band's most emotionally
intense release to date.
As
a standalone track, 'Don't Give Me Hope' would serve perfectly to
encapsulate the essence of The Darlingtons in just under four
minutes. As it happens however, with 'Contagious/Courageous'
following it, the pairing of these two tracks together makes for a
compelling listen, that doesn't so much as summarise the band, as
showcase their defining facets.
'...Hope'
sees the band take a realist's view of a relationship by means of an
anthemic and optimistic track, the inevitable narrative outcome
juxtaposed effortlessly against the track as a whole whilst the
ending sees a shoegaze-y breakdown conclude. Conversely,
'Contagious/Courageous' sees the band head in an almost dream-pop
direction, drawing on the softer side of the their influences,
draping the track in a lazy haze whilst still maintaining the their
optimistic ideals.
Having already been championed by such magazines as Artrocker, it's obvious that 'Don't Give Me Hope' is attracting attention from all the right places. This, coupled with the band's tireless work ethic and gig schedule, they've won over fans across the country, and as we go in to 2014, you can't help but think that it could quite easily become the year of The Darlingtons.
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