The DJ duo’s debut album has been hotly anticipated for sometime now, their slow rising path to being one Britain’s hottest acts has been a joy for so many and incredibly well deserved after such grafting. Now the question is, after all this time, will this record match up to anticipation? They have already had a grammy nomination with the brilliant track, ‘Cola’, and the great single ‘Rabbit Hole’ went down a treat for so many upon its release. It is going to be hard to follow up the success they have recently experienced with such a big album; but featuring Foals, Florence Welch in songwriting, Jake Bugg and Noel Gallagher to deliver the record is incredibly ambitious and impressive. So, the album Dark Matter overall is a great debut piece by Camelphat that shows off the style and what has got them where they are at, it is a slog but delivers well with some amazing moments and features.
The eery opener of ‘Blackbirds’ features a fresh face of Leo Stannard from Leicester, who sits right at home on the song. The main chorus is lightly infectious with the running, stranger things like synths building up anticipation during the first moments of the record. Then we have one of the surprising collaborations from last year with ‘Be Someone’ featuring Jake Bugg and it works so well, the drive in the synths and docile hook is highly effective in the first part of the song. Jake’s vocals really fits with the mood and builds such a mystic tone before the song rises to the hook, exploding gently out to us we hear Bugg singing ‘be someone’. As previously mentioned, the blend of the artists works so well and the percussion choices mixed within the verses goes a long way.
‘Dark Matter’ subtly changes constantly, focusing on different elements of songs as we go along the LP. ‘For A Feeling (feat. RHODES)’ has a really strong melody focus to it, with the dramatic vocals sounding epic that feels fitting for a stadium. The soundscape of this track is delightful, so haunting with the humming synth that whirls around your ears so effectively; eventually it changes to a techo vibe that builds up such tension in the last third of the song, the whole thing is executed so brilliantly. Later on after a Hunger Games esq instrumental number called ‘Indoors’, we have one of the really awesome singles that we heard earlier on in the year, featuring Foals. ‘Hypercolour’ is so excellent, the track is the blend of everything Camelphat and the Oxford alt rock group are. Yannis’ vocals sound classic to him, the melody he follows naturally fits with him and is sown into the DJ duo’s tension/moody production beautifully. It feels classic and a triumph of getting such a indie cult band into a song like this, the way it builds up and drops is something else that will be epic and dramatic live.
Spektrum with Ali Love has some solid parts, the echoey vocals gives the LP a much needed shift in sound but overall does not do much for me. Luckily Elderbrook, who featured on ‘Cola’, returns on Dance With My Ghost (feat. Elderbrook), with the song rattling through so infectiously and the piano chords playing nicely. Again it’s just another slight shift that keeps this album changing throughout.
On ‘Eaister’ that features the band Lowes, who really shines well with the Florence Welch written chorus. The song also has a solid blend of the synths and piano that goes really well, creating such a delicate feel to the song that is a nice touch on the LP. Oh and yes the middle eight that again fits with the collaborator, is delivered so well that ensures this song being one that will be hotly anticipated for the duo’s concerts in the future. Following on, ‘Panic Room’ with AU/RA, is such a strong song that will get many people going at future concerts, it is a lot of fun and a great collaboration. Keeping up with the dancing mood, ‘Keep Movin’ (feat. Max Milner)’ is a disco infused number, with Max Milner sounding very classic in his delivery. Camelphat’s spin on a disco track has so much passion and grit to it, it’s a great spin on everything that really packs a punch.
Lowes then return on ‘Wildfire’, which has some really interesting lyrics that feels so woodland, obviously about being a wildfire too. The piano takes a step forward at the start, with a slight jazz inspired drum kit ticking things along. It really feels like the vocals are expanding through the trees and the forest, it does match with the whole mood of the album but in a more naturalistic way that again, offering us a little fundamental change to keep us engaged.
Having the huge hit of ‘Cola’ was a must for the debut record for obvious reasons, however this is a ‘Dark Matter’ version that gives it all a more night time twist on it, still just as amazing. Reflecting on the breakthrough song, it just reminded me of going wow this project is something different and engaging people who may not usually listen to house music. Despite bringing in someone like me, it was still a hit in Ibiza! ‘Cola’ is honestly a fantastic song that deserved all of its acclaim and no denying it, it took the duo to another level. Fear not, the hits keep coming though as ‘Rabbit Hole’ comes along and Jem Cooke sounds delightful/seductive on the indie dance banger, a song we have known for a while but still sounds just as good still. The rhythm is amazing and makes you sway so easily, it feels so trippy and takes you down a rabbit hole for sure.
The song we were all waiting to hear when the track listing was announced, was of course ’Not Over Yet’ with Mr.Noel Gallagher….would it work, will it please the parka monkeys…..I digress as that last one means nothing at all. Noel comes in straight away in a very ‘Who Built The Moon?’ way, with some really nicely done percussion joining him (also the man’s singing sounds really beautiful). The song sounds so starry and graceful, it creates a pure night sky atmosphere that must mean it the collaboration has worked and is a great addition for both artists work!
By this point we are past the hour mark and as a listener (also not a housey kind of person) I need to find another gear. With the songs to follow, ‘Waiting’ has such a machine like tone to the synths, which is up against the pretty singing by Eli&Fur. It does work but is a very contrasting that makes you take a step back., sadly it does go on and does end up anywhere interesting. ‘Carry Me Away (feat. Jem Cooke)’ is incredibly majestic and is the other song that we find Jem Cooke on, sounding so wonderful which goes incredibly well with the production. Coming into the later stages of such a long record, this moment is so key and it is great that they featured such a talent again to such a success.
‘Witching Hour’ has Will Easton involved and the techno elements of it gives you such a kick, it feels precise but still fresh that is a very hard balance to find. Then we conclude with another Jem Cooke featured song we have heard previously heard but has the Dark Matter mask put onto it. The song is ‘Breathe’ and is very beautiful, having some lovely strings in the backdrop at the start, then exploding into such a fun song that is a great way to finish the album.
Written by Tom Bedding
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