What Happened on the Dark Night of the Soul?

SteveK on Kilmore Place, and Dangermouse and Sparklehorse–

Dangermouse and Sparkplehorse: Dark Night of the Soul

Dangermouse is, of course one of the most prolific DJ/Musicians out there, having been the driving force between several successful solo albums, including ‘The Grey Album’ remix of Jay-Z’s ‘The Black Album’; the formation of Gnarls Barkley; he produced The Gorillaz’s ‘Demon Days’ and Beck’s ‘Modern Guilt’, and recently formed up with James Mercer of the Shins to create Broken Bells.

Sparklehorse were one of the best Alternative/College Radio bands of the last 15 years, producing, among other works, the brilliant albums ‘Good Morning Spider’, ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ to name but two.

‘Dark Night of the Soul’ was to be the only collaboration between Dangermouse and Sparklehorse.  Mark Linkous, Sparklehorse’s lead singer, committed suicide earlier this year.  ‘Dark Night of the Soul’, which was to have been released last year, has languished in legal limbo until recently.  What has finally been released is nothing short of brilliant.

The album opens with the haunting, trippy “Revenge”, which could easily pass for unreleased John Lennon.  Farther in on the album is “Jaykub”, a scathing ballad directed at the eponymous loser of the title.  What sets the latter apart is the beautiful flow of contemptuous imagery juxtaposed into an almost anthemic ballad.  Personal favourites on this one include the intense “Little Girl”, “Pain” (Which features vocals by Iggy Pop), the shuffling “Everytime I’m With You”, the 60s-trippy-dippy sounding ‘Daddy’s Gone” and “Grim Augury”, which is easily the most unsettling song on the album.

This one must be listened to in order to be appreciated.  It’s also, simply put, essential listening.

Dangermouse and Sparklehorse: Dark Night of the Soul

EMI

Steve’s Rating 10/10

Kilmore Place: What Happened?

With Light vocals and stripped-down-to-basics Pop-Rock instrumentation, the latest EP from Kilmore Place shows us a more sophisticated band; they have honed their craft and sound from their previous, self-titled EP.

There’s already a single “Lost at a Wedding” which is very reminiscent Grunge-era Coffeehouse Rock, a la early Third Eye Blind.  Best on this oh-too-short EP is “Bag It Up”, which demonstrates that despite the mostly upbeat sound of the EP, that Kilmore Place are capable of the kind of driving, rocking intensity that is a hallmark of good Rock diversity.

‘What Happened?’ isn’t the question I was asking after listening to the seven meager songs here…what I was asking myself was, “When’s the full album coming out?” Because the thing about ‘What Happened?” is, once you listen to it you’ll want to hear much, much more from Kilmore Place.

Kilmore Place: What Happened?

Independent

Steve’s Rating 9/10

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