Formed in Sheffield in 2014, Dark Sky Park created waves with their debut EP Follow Me (reviewed here) but then, like most bands, had their motion suddenly halted by the global pandemic®. After the enforced hiatus the band are back and, without missing a step, picking things up right where they left off, and after releasing a tantalising trail of singles, hit us with their sophomore EP, Delirious. Featuring the band’s fresh take on familiar themes, this is a prime slab of rock n’ roll…but not as we know it.
Revolving around the core of Debbie Bilson (vocals and bass) and Ainsley Stones (guitars), along with various guest drummers, Dark Sky Park are a tight unit who benefit from reduced numbers; it gives them a strong focus and rather than being incoherent babbling, opening (and title) track proves itself a coherent beast. Arriving with a cool riff and nifty footwork, ‘Delirious’ teases the listener before landing the knockout blow with an insanely catchy (like flypaper catchy) chorus. It’s an earworm that’ll crawl to the centre of your cranium, and like a friendly spectre, will haunt you all day. ‘Delirious’ has all the key ingredients that make a great rock song; soaring vocals, gnarly solos, and a lively, boisterous beat, yet it deftly sidesteps any rock cliches and the result is something refreshing original, yet strangely recognisable. At three-minutes in length it doesn’t overstay its welcome, but in brevity is its strength and you feel there’s been some judicial pruning going on here so that all that’s left is the most direct line to what it’s all about, which is exactly how it should be.
Delirious is an EP that shows off the different facets of the band’s sound and ‘He’ll Never Know’ marries an angular post-punk riff reminiscent of Blondie to a rock sound more in tune with Graham Bonnet-era Rainbow, which might sound like a strange combination, but the band fuse them together perfectly. Powered by a fine staccato riff ‘Stand My Ground’ brings this EP to a shuddering halt, and my only complaint is that at nine-minutes in length Delirious is over all too soon, but true to the old adage, it certainly leaves you hungry for more. Put on your sunglasses because Dark Sky Park have a bright future.
Connect with Dark Sky Park: Facebook | Bandcamp
Track List:
- Delirious
- He’ll Never Know
- Stand My Ground
