The Darts: Boomerang – Album Review

The Darts: Boomerang

(Alternative Tentacles)

LP | CD | DL

Out now

US garage-psych band The Darts find a more soulful groove with their new album Boomerang.

The Darts have been a Louder Than War favourite for some years now; from their debut album, which suckered us right in, through their more scuzz-fueled I Like You, But Not Like That and on to last year’s fantastic Snake Oil. With various singles and EPs scattered in between, the four-piece have really started to cement themselves as staples on the global underground garage scene, especially since they are one of the hardest-working bands around. Just check out their forthcoming tour for proof and head down to a show to witness the energy they pour into them. The fact that they have called their new album Boomerang is in homage to their own work ethic, that they drop off the road and head straight back around and into the studio.

It’s another great album from them, but is also one that showcases another groove to their developing garage-psych style, one that brings in one of garage-rock’s regular drinking buddies, a nice slice of soul. The Detroit Cobras had it it spades. The Dirtbombs regularly splattered their songs with it, and now The Darts are at it too. It’s always great to hear when done so well. That’s not to say though they have ditched their fuzztastic organ-drenched vibe. Not at all.

Right from the off, with songs like Hang Around they are gliding effortlessly over that vibe. The guitar line is hypnotic, recalling the classic 60’s garage-psych vibe, and the harmonies are glorious, as they are across the album. Recent single Are You Down juts over a classic garage-punk chord run, the guitar dropping out to bring forth the muscular bass sound that runs beneath many of their songs. They close out the opening trio with the sultry single Pour Another, an ode to their constant life on the road. It calls you in like a siren before rising slowly up like flames licking at the souls of your feet. Peppered with sweet moments of harmonies, it slowly reveals that this time around the band are spreading their wings more than on previous albums. And then they really bring it.

Your Show slides in full of soul, desert-psych soul. It works and fits their world perfectly. It returns again on Night, but by the time we hear Dreaming Crazy we’re prepped for something really special. Shorn of the fuzz, the band tumble into something unexpected from them. The organ doesn’t stab, it soothes beneath; the guitar glistens; Nicole Laurenne’s vocals tender and broken yet simultaneously full of confidence. And again, by god those harmonies. If they were to open their door to a non-garage world, let a few strangers into their shows, this will be the song that does it.

They also bring the style in across other songs, scattered here or there, such as the middle eight of Photograph, but the sparse use means that they can still bring the full-on attack to much of the album. When they hit with songs like Welcome To My Doldrums and Liar, they are still firing, the latter with a wonderful horrorshow fun fair organ line to add a sense of terror to the mix.

The Darts just keep coming back and giving us more. It seems that they are unstoppable right now and Boomerang is another great release to add to their growing list.

The Darts will be playing shows across Europe and the US throughout the year.

Follow The Darts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Words by Nathan Whittle. Find his Louder Than War archive here.

Nathan also presents From The Garage on Louder Than War Radio every Tuesday at 8pm. Tune in for an hour of fuzz-crunching garage rock ‘n’ roll and catch up on all shows on the From The Garage Mixcloud playlist.