Darren Sylvester: Touch A Tombstone | 4ZZZ Brisbane 102.1FM

- Melbourne’s Darren Sylvester is poised to release his third album Touch A Tombstone. In addition to his musical output, Sylvester is an interesting visual artist, adept at photography, sculpture, video and performance. This comes together in Touch A Tombstone, where the visuals match the finesse of the music.

Many of these songs are groovy. Plans is the first instance of this, and a standout. It has that smooth Roxy Music / Bryan Ferry vibe with its choppy guitar, funky bass, synth hits and auxillary percussion (essential). Leave This Town is another favourite, and something that I didn’t see coming. It starts off on flute and synth, moving into some spoken word, then into some cosmic-synth stomp ala Patrick Cowley / Morodor. It has a similar chug but with a dreamer atmosphere. Bugaboo is another smooth groover with punchy bass and nice synths, matched with Sylvester’s crooning.

There are an equal number of downtempo tracks, like the excellent Little Bit Of Luck. I dig the sultry atmosphere of this track, with its jangly guitar and drum machine. Love Don’t Forget Me is another good slow jam, while Over Yet sounds like something you’d hear in the Roadhouse up in Twin Peaks. Some tracks have more of a new wave feel, like Chance At Love and Be Right Back, both featuring drum machines and uplifting choruses.

Overall it’s sort of an amalgam of new wave pop and funky AOR grooves (which is a combo I can get behind). For all its nostalgic leanings it’s a solid record, not getting caught up in references or pastiche. The music and visuals are highly refined and finessed. As always it comes down to the songs, and whether you're wearing rose-tinted specs or not, there are some quality tunes here.

- Hillfolk.