Nicolas Jaar released one of 2011′s most promising albums at the ripe age of twenty-one, a university student born just at the start of the musically in vogue 90s. Now, respect your elders, but it is always inspiring to see someone younger than you accomplish success in their field you’ve only fathomed. If processed the right way, with the right perspective, it should only propel you to be better – not to be daunted or overwhelmed by others’ success, but motivated by all the ways in which you still have room to grow.
With the release of his new DARKSIDE EP, a side project with guitarist Dave Harrington, his music is still strong in its layered echoes in the cones of negative space, but is warmer than his debut. If Space Is Only Noise was an invasive exploration into the atmosphere, then the DARKSIDE EP is its sonic nighttime descent back to Earth, with a steady bass line guiding the way, Iron Man hover-landing and all.
His integration of vocals with properly-timed ebb between word and sound could still further develop, but this is a collection of songs with less floating urgency than in Space, that is more confident in its well-contained swagger from the young artist; and that seems to be a harbinger of what’s still to come. Stream the EP below and head over to the website for Jaar’s label Clown & Sunset to purchase.
