Darkstar is an electronic music duo who's been putting out tunes on Hyperdub and 2010 records since 2007. They’re of relative obscurity and first gained a little momentum on the forefront of the dubstep movement, before the trendy wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-wha and skull crushing bass of the more clearly defined (and equally obnoxious) genre which you hear today.
However, despite much of the recognition these guys gained from the few dubstep singles they did put out, the genre does not define this pair at all. Their latest release, the full length album North, is simply experimental electronic brilliance.
From the beginning you’re hit by the brick of a post-goth macabre cover of Human Leagues “You Remind Me of Gold”. This less-dance-more-dark down tempo version features glitchy vocals and a persistent, hypnotizing, on-beat audio tape crackle reminiscent of a card deck being shuffled. Steve Goodman, owner of Hyperdub, describes the sound: “It’s like hearing circuitry crying.” This brings up a pretty controversial debate that has existed since digital media was introduced as a means for artistic production: the role of the artist and talent in the digital age. James Young and Aiden Whalley go beyond the idea of being simple button pushers. North reflects the team’s understanding of the boundaries of electronic composition and how they push those limits as if the computer were a traditional folk instrument. The use of fractal vocal samples throughout the album as well as their impeccably manipulated digital tones epitomized on the title track, North, and on their most well known single from the album, Aidys Girl is a Computer, proves that these guys can pull as much heart out of a computer as you could a marimba.
Overall, the album is darkly romantic. It’s music for 21st century vampires and goths who are 1) kinda cool and 2) older than 21. I listen to a lot of music and I rarely get as excited about a new genre or sound as I am about Darkstar. North is their bone chillingly refreshing full-length album and hopefully helps pave the way for other electronic musicians who view the medium as digital artistry.
By Orlando Estrada
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