aaamusic | On 02, Aug 2010

Falling somewhere between indie rock and folk (with elements of country appearing every now and again), Darker My Love’s Alive As You Are manages to feel understated and subtle at the same time as packing a decent punch. The band’s Californian roots are evident throughout – songs such as Maple Day Getaway bring to mind classic west coast rock n roll, reminiscent somewhat of bands such as The Beach Boys. Other tracks – Rain Party, for instance – vaguely evoke the sound of The Beatles circa Abbey Road.

This is not to say that Alive As You Are does not have its own unique sound, however – it does, and an effective one at that – these comparisons only serve to showcase Darker My Love’s musical range. Tim Presley’s vocals jump smoothly between various tones and volumes, all the while supported by his band mate’s skilful ability to craft both catchy backing tunes and impressive solos of their own – though most of the album’s sound comes from various guitars, at various points several other instruments pop up to effortlessly accompany them. Emotional tunes go hand-in-hand with bouncier tracks without feeling awkwardly juxtaposed, resulting in a record both emotionally deep and just plain enjoyable to listen to. Excellent.

Katharine Sparks