Authentic and nostalgic, ‘Dark Energy’ feels rather timeless. Recorded on an analogue eight-track tape machine, the album follows a truly organic ethos, with its author, Coolonaut, seeking to capture the essence of the 60s and the 70s, even including recording and editing techniques. That’s perhaps why ‘Dark Energy’ is so grainy and fuzzy, boasting enhanced warmth and a playful lo-fi character. Steeped in classic rock and blues influences, this is an album that needs to be contextualised.
First of all, there’s the sonic aspect of it, which has already been partly demystified above. Yet, it’s interesting to note the healthy amount of Hammond-like organs in it, perfectly complementing the crunchy guitars and the rolling drums. At times, ‘Dark Energy’ seems to take a step into prog-rock (for instance, in the title track), but it always remains pretty balanced overall. Featuring ten wholesome pieces, the album will appeal to any nostalgic listeners out there.
Originally from Scotland, and now based in the Australian outback, Coolonaut has a very unique perspective on life, also being the doctor of his local community. Speaking about the lyricism behind the album, he explains: “A response to a world in which our assumptions about basic human compassion have quite literally been blown apart. It seems that a murderous evil force is on the march again all over the world, and we appear helpless to stop it.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Dark Energy’ on Spotify:
