The Suncharms first appeared on these pages via a review of their 2018 single “Red Dust” and they have been a regular on the playlist over here at Mayhem Towers in the seven an a half years since then! ‘Darkening Sky’ is their third album since their unexpected, unlikely and uniquely beautiful return. Following their extended “career interruption” they have recorded some classy sounds. This album is their third in five years following ‘Distant Lights’ and ‘Things Lost’. So it is definitely now time to focus on what actually is rather than what might have been. The album has massive ambition against which it delivers perfectly and it has a grand cinematic scope. Once again it is hard to drop the Suncharms into a genre box, but if you like quality shoegaze, classic jangly indie or delightful dream pop then this is the band for you.
“Monster To Me” adds the darkest edge to the album and it might be familiar to some of you as a mix of it came out as a single last year. The album opens with the wonderfully weird and wistful “Midnight Train” a song that could sit comfortably on the soundtrack to a film based on a Matt Haig novel. Filmmakers take note, I think Matt’s new novel is called ‘Midnight Train’. The passionate and emotional centre of this beautiful collection of songs is, for me, “Diamonds”, what a superb tune. The album has some deep and very smart lyrics which seem to reflect on memories, chances missed, everyday life, time and what it brings and reflection. It is an album that helps you meditate, think and to simply drown in gorgeous soundscapes. If you have not got the Suncharms in your life yet, then change that now!
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