Spiral is one of those albums that are hard to review due to the complexity, subtlety, and intensity of its tracks… No words can fully describe the listening experience. Whether you like it or not, one thing's for sure, you can't be indifferent to Darkside's music!

Made up of Chilean-born producer and now New Yorker, Nicolas Jaar, and jazz guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Dave Harrington, the group was formed in 2011 as a recreational side project that was meant to be temporary, like a jam. The two had already known each other since university where they studied literature together. After his first solo album (Space Is Only Noise), Jaar hired Dave to support him on the album tour. Their friendly and musical connection led them to collaborate naturally on a joint project.

This is how Darkside came to be, with the production of an EP in 2011 followed by Psychic, the duo's album that was released two years later under Other People, a new label created specifically for the occasion by Nicolas Jaar. So, a first attempt and a first artistic success praised by critics even though the project was not necessarily meant to have a sequel. While both members were deeply involved in their various solo or group projects (Against All Logic, Ancient Astronaut, and Just Friends for one, and Dave Harrington or Light Fluorescent for the other), nothing suggested that a second LP would see the light of day.

However, in 2018, the duo decided to reunite in a house in New Jersey to develop a project in just a few days. Due to the pandemic, it would ultimately take three years for Spiral to hit the shelves…

Where Psychic developed a certain groove reminiscent at times of Disclosure, Spiral is much more introspective. Blending acoustic and electronic sounds, with Harrington's guitar serving as the main thread adorned with countless colours, the whole is imbued with a certain spirituality.

From the introduction with "Narrow road", the sound stretches, almost inviting meditation, carried by the percussion, string instruments, and Nicolas Jaar's voice that weaves in and out. In 6 minutes, the tone is set and the duo invites you to travel with them. The rest of the journey varies the pleasures between vocal psychedelia ("I'm The Echo"), contemplative folk ("Spiral"), cosmic mid-tempo breakbeat reminiscent of the heyday of British trip-hop ("The Limit"), or the almost Tuareg blues of "Lawmaker".

In terms of inspiration, you can find some "new age" reminiscences from groups like Can, Pink Floyd, The Orb, or even Radiohead, but once again, the Darkside experience requires stepping away from any preconceived notions, any obvious references, to allow yourself to be guided and rocked by the musical emotion that Spiral will provide.

Place the diamond on the vinyl, close your eyes, and let yourself be carried away without resistance into their universe!

Arnaud Brailly