The Darlingtons
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The Darlingtons

Taunton, England, United Kingdom | INDIE

Taunton, England, United Kingdom | INDIE
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"THE DARLINGTONS REVEAL DETAILS OF DEBUT EP 'NEW INDEPENDENT'"

'New Independent' is the debut EP from hotly tipped new indie darlings; The Darlingtons.

This young four piece indie rock outfit from Taunton who have recently signed to independent label Ordered Records, find inspiration from guitar bands of the 90’s, rather than their modern day peers. Listening to them play you can hear definite tones of Echo & The Bunnymen, the raw melodies of Sonic Youth, and the atmosphere of The National.

The Darlingtons, who have already appeared on BBC Introducing, are releasing their debut EP 'New Independent' on the 16thMay and it encapsulates the fiercely independent ethos of the band. Tracks such as ‘Sirens’ and ‘Flashing Lights’ both take influence from British shoe gaze and stadium rock and ‘It Hangs’ delivers guitar based melodies that would sit very comfortably in the US west coast garage scene.

Even with huge guitars, big drums and sing along choruses that will stick in your head for days, they have cobbled together an ethereal, melancholic sound that will speak to a nation experiencing difficult times, and this is their thinking, it’s why they signed to a new independent label Ordered Records rather than a major. They just want to make music that moves anyone that wants to listen.

With gigs and festivals around the UK planned for summer, The Darlingtons have the potential to make a real impact on the music scene in 2011. Comparisons will be drawn for this band, but their sound is still beautifully unique. - Stereoboard


"Introducing - The Darlingtons"

Taunton's The Darlingtons are a young indie-rock four-piece who've just signed to independent label Ordered Records. You can listen to the track "Sirens & Flashing Lights" via the Soundcloud embed above.

Okay, first impressions. 1.) The singer has a bit of Editors/Interpol about him, but thankfully not enough to be labelled as a dross imitation. 2.) This sort of mid-paced, guitar-driven indie-rock is not well-represented in the charts currently. 3.) They can't half write a catchy song. The chorus has so much 'sing-alongability' about it, it's untrue.

What I like most about The Darlingtons is that while there are comparable bands in the UK in the past five years, they manage to draw influence from many yet sound like none. Their press release claims they take influence from British shoe gaze & stadium rock and it shows; there's a lot going on in these songs. Oh, and it's also phenomenally refreshing to hear a melody constructed by a vocalist, and not simply following a guitar riff.

So there you have it; by keeping it simple and being original, The Darlingtons might just be the band to watch out for in the second half of the year.

Their debut EP New Independent is released on July 25th through Ordered Records. You can find out more by clicking this [link], and support independent record labels by following @orderedrecords. - Glasswerk National


"The Darlingtons – New Independent (e.p.)"

The Darlingtons three track debut EP, aptly named New Independent, has firmly established this fledgling band on the list of up-and-coming talent. Originating from the Somerset town of Taunton, this four piece indie group has gone from strength to strength; playing gigs from Shrewsbury to London and signing to Ordered Records, an independent label. Their recent live dates in the capital have certainly not gone unnoticed within indie circles and momentum is growing for this south western band. They are a group who want to keep their feet firmly on the ground, while creating head turning music. Released on the 25th July 2011, New Independent certainly offers a taste of things to come for The Darlingtons.

This is the kind of EP you could imagine listening to on a hot, long summer road trip- don’t let the track ‘Winter’ fool you. The Darlingtons have definitely scored points with their sweeping guitar melodies and confident beat. ‘It Hangs’ checks the pre-requisit box for the toe-tapping qualities and resonating tune one would expect from an indie band. As the chorus kicks in the track explodes into a raw and expressive sound; a sound which continues to evolve throughout the rest of the tracks on the EP. ‘Sirens and Flashing Lights’ again treats the listener to another blast of hard-hitting melodies, where clear influences from The National can be distinguished.

The lyrics to each tune on the EP will strike a chord with the listener. They tap into something which each and every one of us can relate to; love, hate, ambivalence, the words cover it all. Maybe this is the norm within modern indie rock, yet the lyrics in New Independent seem to hint at a different class of song writing.

New Independent has a similar sound to indie contemporaries such as The Editors and White Lies. Perhaps its forlorn lyrics, the lead singer’s doleful voice (reminiscent of Ian Curtis of Joy Division) or the injection of synthesizers which draws us to that comparison. On the flip-side there is also something idiosyncratically fresh about the band.

Whilst The Darlingtons are aware of their originality, their uniqueness will become more obvious with time. That being said, New Independent is a fantastic breakthrough EP for such a young band. Brilliantly thought out and musically engaging, the tracks really set The Darlingtons in good stead to make it big.

RATING: 4/5 The calibre of the tracks are impressive and indicate this band is one to watch out for in the near future.
SOUNDS LIKE: Joy Division, The Editors, The Rakes, White Lies, Manchester-indie scene - Creature Mag


Discography

New Independent EP - 25th July 2011
Sirens & Flashing Lights
Winter
It Hangs

Photos

Bio

These four talented musicians are not, despite what you might think, from Darlington. They have been playing together since their early teens, starting out as a blues band. In seeking a new direction, they drew influences from the indie scene of the late 80's & early 90's, and soon found the likes of Echo And The Bunnymen shaping their new sound. Taking the ethereal atmosphere of the era and mixing it with modern, powerful guitars they have created a sound that, whilst compararable to other bands today, is still beautifully unique.

The Darlingtons' music speaks for itself. They've built a loyal fan base not because people were told they are 'the next big thing', but because they make great music. Their introspective lyrics of alienation and escapism speak to a generation lost in between a stagnant Top 40 and the forever underdog underground guitar scenes.

The music takes influences from 60s folk and reggae, through to the 80s Sup Pop and Factory sound. Their trademark deep melodic bass lines intertwine with big, bursting guitars and drums.

They are signed to Ordered Records, an indie start up label whose ideology is as focused as the band's, bringing great music to a new open minded audience.