For those unacquainted with Dark Dark Dark, they are a six piece acoustic chamber pop ensemble with musical ties to Minneapolis, New York and New Orleans. If those locations conjure up a cacophony of regional sounds in your mind’s eye, well, you are probably on the right track. Dark Dark Dark are like musical alchemists, blending the old with the new, and creating something rather enjoyable.
Bright Bright Bright is a six song EP that blends jazz, indie pop, and folk music using traditional string instruments, piano, drums and voice. You can put away the amplifiers; Bright Bright Bright is a beacon from ages past, yet it is lead singer Nona Marie Invie’s vocals that set this release apart from others.
The EP opens with the title track “Bright Bright Bright.” Introduced with a somber melody on piano, Invie’s voice shines early on. She sings, “I hurt myself nearly as much as I hurt you,” and it sends shivers down my spine. Her voice sounds remarkably old, like one of those voices in the black and white movies on AMC. The song crescendos to a backing chorus of harmonized voices and the melody shifts between minor and major chords, softening the eerie melody with moments of brightness.
“The Hand” is Dark Dark Dark moving in a somewhat different direction. Trumpet, accordion, and timpani-like percussion lead a jaunty-tune. At times Arcade Fire comparisons seem apt, but Dark Dark Dark lack the more contemporary mood that the Arcade Fire create. “The Hand” also lacks some of the emotional intensity of the other tracks. More upbeat in nature, the song is contrary to Dark Dark Dark’s strong suit, namely, all things slow, moody and melancholy.
One of the best qualities of this record is its production. Recorded in a converted church, it rebounds and resounds with a wholeness. In “Something for Myself,” Invie’s voice fills the room, and as the song swells from verse to chorus, the atmosphere of the recording space is captured in the natural echoes.
The next two tracks, “Make Time” and “Flood,” are representative of the EP’s low points. They are too theatrical in nature and in “Make Time,” Invie hands over vocals to Marshall LaCount whose nasally voice in the lead disrupts the overall sound a bit. On such a short release, his voice on only one track gives the listener little to digest. Perhaps with more tracks his style and delivery would grow on me. “Flood” has touching melodies, but at times I feel like I’m listening to a musical soundtrack.
Closer “Wild Goose Chase,” apparently a cover of an Elephant Micah song (who I had not heard before, but recently found on NPR and am quite enjoying at the moment!) is the most memorable track on Bright Bright Bright and an appropriate conclusion. Bright Bright Bright closes just as it opens, with simply a piano and a lovely voice, shifting between dark, bluesy chords and moments of shining resolve. Lyrically it’s the sometimes sad story of setting out on the road for freedom, money, and love.
Finally, I must admit that Dark Dark Dark fell out of my regular music rotation for a while, especially after such a strong initial response. While Bright Bright Bright is a solid offering with only two tracks missing the mark for me, it is definitely an EP that demands a very specific listening environment. This is the EP for evenings home with some quiet projects, or coffee bars and intelligent conversation. But don’t let this review steer you away from giving Dark Dark Dark a solid listen. You can stream their album for free on their website.