The Horse Darkly
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The Horse Darkly

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THD - The Horse Darkly
15 Track Album 2009

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The Horse Darkly have arrived out of nowhere with one of the most impressive debut albums of the last decade. It’s hard to pinpoint influences, but there’s a haunting lyrical style, the sonic backdrop is layered with guitar, sparse piano parts and twisted strings. It borders on symphonic – except it’s rockier - there’s a groove and an intensity that are hard to put your finger on. Ambient rock that stretches the walls and scratches the edges to lurk, and lure.

The Horse Darkly is comprised of lead vocalist Regret and multi-instrumentalist/producer, Jason Millhouse. Two new additions (Rachel Mac and Marty Smith) to the live lineup create a duality of the sexes and a wired energy that’s hard to resist. New bands tend to begin the set with most of the crowd shuffling at the rear of the venue, bar close to hand. By the time THD punch into the final chorus of the opening song, the bodies have drifted forward. It’s not long before the space is at the back of the room - and the way these guys are going – soon there wont be any spaces left at all.

The ambiguously titled album - ‘THD’ - was crafted in the sanctuary of their home studio. Hardly a laptop in the basement, Organic Audio is a veritable Bat Cave of aural delights. But Regret and Jason don’t stop with the music. The pair are also committed to the visual medium… For their debut music video, ‘Getaway Car’, they borrowed a car, self-produced the storyboard and set about creating their own film noir. Brisbane is the backdrop, but it’s a Brisbane you’ve rarely seen before.

Their next clip – now on youtube and soon to reach the airwaves, reflects the seemingly constant substitution of sex for the sake of celebrity. The song itself, ‘Lava’ (much like the band) is a juxtaposition. The tenderness and vulnerability of the song belies the phallic connotations in the lyric. “Are you happy now, I’m going down?”

When asked to describe the motivation behind the song, Regret explains - “The clips topping the charts right now are a serious step in the wrong direction – women aren’t people anymore – they’re objects. Which is fine if you’re a sex worker… but young girls are watching these shows and thinking that this is who they have to become to be accepted. Talent, art, intelligence - not enough.”

“I’m not a stripper,” she adds. “I don’t writhe.”

Already The Horse Darkly are turning heads and pricking up ears. There’s a subtle wave of expectation among peers and their ever-growing legion of fans as the music gets into Ipods’ and on the airwaves. With national touring, more videos and a pretty stunning album in their arsenal, The Horse Darkly are headed for something strange and unusual.

A provocative, occasionally violent alt. rock style tempered by haunting vocals – THD manages to appeal to almost anyone, from the angst-loving die hards to the rock and pop purists… and no one seems pissed off.