The lead single from Black Music, the debut album by one of the most aptly-named bands we’ve come across in a while – Dark Horses [Twitter/Facebook] have come out of nowhere to become one of our most hotly-tipped acts of 2012 – is a slice of brooding, bass-driven pop that manages to sound both intimate and expansive – sometimes simultaneously. As a taster of what’s to come from the album itself (which, just by the way, is brilliant), Alone works particularly well (we would argue that it sounds even better in album context), sputtering into life and and building over three minutes, through an explosive chorus or two, two its rip-roaring finale. It’s quite an intense listen, but remains a pop song at heart, even if its pessimistic lyrics won’t be for everyone. Given a further boost by some rich and confident vocals that increase in intensity as the song progresses. The Brighton sextet put themselves on the map with Boxing Day a few months ago (which we also have streaming below, and is included on the album along with 12 other songs), and the new single marks them out as a force to be reckoned with.
http://soundcloud.com/darkhorsesmusic/boxingday