Dark Water
Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, the Land Down Under, “where women glow and men plunder,” darkwave/synth-pop outfit Dark Water released their self-title EP not long ago. And it's fabulous.
Dark Water
Dark Water is made up of Jack Siren (lead vocals, synths, guitar), Dettie Sebastian (bass), and V (drums). The band’s music reflects dark retro flavors of the ‘80s traveling on synth-pop melodies weighed down with beau coup reverb.
In February of this year, the band spoke with Noisegate’s Liz M, telling her about their gear. Jack plays a “Gibson guitar, a shit solid state guitar amp with reverb and a Roland keyboard with inbuilt synths sampled.”
Seb uses “a Fender Jazz bass which I got last year. Actually, Geryon found a bargain online for me and helped me suss it out because I’d never played before and it’s sick! I use this and a BOSS multi-effects guitar pedal, which is actually V’s. Can you tell I haven’t played in a band before?”
V, the drummer, plays “a pieced together Percussion Plus kit Jack leant me and bits and pieces from my housemate who is also a drummer. We use a Roland SP-404 Sampler to play our backing track.”
The drums on this track display V’s finesse, technique, and feel for what works and what doesn’t.
The EP contains five-tracks. First up is “Siren Song,” which opens on gleaming opaque colors topped by Siren’s captivating voice. Layers of flowing synth hues fill the backdrop, infusing the tune with polished orchestral savors, as the thrumming bass line and snapping snare hold the rhythm down. I love the dreamy voice of Jack Siren, almost ethereal, yet penetrating.
“Wasteland” features radiant surging synths exuding wall-of-sound waves of dark energy accented by actinic tones. Heavy resonance imbues the harmonics with a rushing feel, like being caught in a windstorm. For some reason, the sound of the synths on this track conjure up visions of Canada’s prog-rock band Rush.
“Take The Piss” rides thick murky colors, slowly gathering scope and pressure. Siren’s voice invests the tune with nostalgic flavors, as well as dulcet textures. It’s a grand voice, potent yet deliciously indulgent and supple. The harmonic flow of this track is simply gorgeous, tantalizing and aesthetically nuanced.
“Chain of Hearts” oozes dark smoldering coloration atop a restless rhythmic pulse. As the harmonics swell with intensity, Siren’s voice takes on velvety, dreamy gliding surfaces. “Poison” rides crunching percussion and glimmering synths pulsating with devout textures, dripping with mystical implications. The drums on this track display V’s finesse, technique, and feel for what works and what doesn’t.
Dark Water is marvelously wrought, dispensing dark glossy harmonics, like smoked glass, superb rhythms, and beguiling vocals.
