The title
A Quiet Darkness may be somewhat misleading. Yes, the lyrical content within is particularly stirring, and yes, it does frame certain emotional qualities that could have the hairs on one’s neck stand up from time to time. But does it sound dark? Is it brooding in a James Blake sort of way? Does it haunt like Tim Hecker? Not like one would expect (in the slightest).
Beginnings opens the tale of two; a married couple caught separated in the wake of a nuclear catastrophe. A simple keyboard melody and extended bass and guitar notes serve as a backdrop for Dexter Tortoriello and Megan Messina’s unified vocal performance. While not overly extravagant, their sensitive conveyance is at times immobilizing. This aspect of the music only tends to grow throughout the album, as the duo’s story of a husband and wife progresses from a desperate search for one another to a final acceptance of a life at its last moments. During the creation of the record, the duo spent time in abandoned houses along the road in which the narrative takes place. They produced recordings in each in order to bring a different element for each track.
The Beauty Surrounds, being the second track, plays as a potential single, with sparse electronic percussion and a vaguely hopeful musical accompaniment. The chorus drops like cotton in the breeze on a springtime sunset; it envelops and charms, much like the song title itself would suggest. It’s enough to hope it doesn’t finish too soon for fear that the next nine songs don’t hold the same grip.
That’s where
A Quiet Darkness shows a significant degree of strength. Nearly each moment is just as powerful as the last from start to finish. Listening will prompt a dilemma to either continue on or replay what one has just heard. Either way, the result is very likely to be the same.
Carrion boasts a fairly straight-forward piano line that is riddled with rhythmic complexity upon the first few listens.
Smoke Signals holds some of the more audible samples of silence
Houses recorded for each song. It has the ability to drive the listener to chills with resonating ambient tones slowly descending in pitch. The vocal company is repetitive, yet effective. The message comes clear with the lyrics: “The birds are struggling to prepare for this weak and tumbling air. I drempt I found your body.”
All in all, the execution of elements within
Houses’ newest effort is what makes its uncomplicated musicality so moving. It is acknowledged that certain statements within this review might come off as overly dramatic, however, the belief can be held early on that Tortoriello & Messina’s intention was very much
to be dramatic.
Darkness’ delicacy chips away at the listener piece by piece, until everything feels exposed and vulnerable for the conclusion. It is an album to be taken seriously. While we as individuals generally aren’t fond of having our weaknesses revealed, we offer open ears to music that allows us to wholly feel something (so long as it’s not frustration for the music itself).
Houses delivers without restraint in this regard. It’s a work of art that will have you appreciating the time taken alone to listen to it, but feel saddened at the notion that there’s no one there with you to share the experience.
