Dalhous

You may have noticed that there's something building in the UK lately around several acts producing dark, cinematic almost-techno. Just like during that other wave of dark, hopeless music in the early '80s, the UK economy is still in crisis, the Tories are up to their usual tricks and that frustration is again being channelled in musical form. Think of Demdike Stare, Andy Stott and the Modern Love label, think of the Haxan Cloak on Tri Angle and, most of all, think of Blackest Ever Black. The newest release on Blackest Ever Black is the debut album from Dalhous, the Edinburgh-based duo of Marc Dall and Alex Ander. Despite being brighter and more percussive than the work of their peers, An Ambassador For Laing retains the gothic tones and introspection you'd expect from the London-based label. Stylistically it references Vangelis, Aphex Twin, Goblin, downtempo and techno, but artfully combined. The album is a journey, as cinematic in structure as it is in tone. It's only a matter of time before some journo lumps these artists together into a scene called gothno or depressedwave. However, if we don't box in these gems of dark, cinematic genius but allow them the freedom to evolve, it will no doubt lead to rewarding and unexpected places.