Django Django – Glowing In The Dark

Art rock four-piece Django Django are back with their new album ‘Glowing in the Dark’ and it may just herald a return to form.

Since releasing their self-titled debut album to industry acclaim way back in 2012, Django Django have defied the pigeon-hole. As if merely uttering the phrase around them would cause uncontrollable melting like the wicked witch of the west.

But when you have the ability to tackle multiple genres like these guys, you’d probably take your sound for a wander too now & again, right?

However, that approach has seen them tumble through the kaleidoscopic rabbit-hole of trying to punch a hole in every genre from dancehall to psycho-billy. Their follow up two albums ‘Born Under Saturn’ and ‘Marble Skies’ saw this sound tinkering take full steam, which no-doubt alienated those who prefer a more drilled down sound.

I believe the Django Django team will tell you this is art and isn’t meant to be universally applauded.

But, lovers of the psych-rockers rejoice, because the band are back with ‘Glowing in the Dark’ and it feels like they’ve hit the middle of the bat on this one.

Early releases from the record included the title track and the ethereal ‘Spirals’. It now seems these two tunes whetted the appetite for what was to come. Full to bursting with synthy hedonism, ‘Spirals’ is first on the album track list and it whisks you up from second one.

The elongated intro sets you up, before Vincent Neff’s vocal gives the whole thing direction.

Along with ‘Spiral’ other highlights on the album include the stunning ‘Waking Up’ which features the lilting vocal skills of Charlotte Gainsbourg.

With ‘Free From Gravity’, ‘Got Me Worried’ and ‘Headrush’ you can start to feel yourself heading down the same rabbit-hole which engulfed the last two albums.

But then ‘The Ark’ and ‘Night of the Buffalo’ come in, like a balm. When the artistry is all getting a little too intense. The first offers musical respite and the chance to gather your thoughts before the second almost restarts the journey with the more grounded sounds of driving drum beats and growing synths.

Now you’re rejuvenated and you’ve taken in the quick folksy detour of ‘The World Will Turn’ you’re ready for a driving end to this latest cosmic journey on the SS-Django Django

‘Hold Fast’ is a pleasure to behold, the intoxicating infusion of heavy snyths and those feathery vocals remind you just why this band are so revered. Let it envelop your senses and carry you away through an asteroid field of love and affection.

Then ‘Asking For More’ leaves you doing just that. Your head starts bobbing, fingers tapping, you’re in the moment. Gone are the lingering reminders of the strange folksy tunes or the psycho-billy regression of ‘Got Me Worried’. Now you’re just here, enjoying the music and… just like that… it’s fades away leaving you hopeless.

Django Django you slippery devils…

As I’ve said, I definitely see this as a return to form for Londoners. I completely appreciate that, with the enviable talents these guys posses there’s bound to be a divergence from the straight-forward. After all that’s the reason we all sit up and listen when a new Django Django record drops.

In truth, if you love these synth-masters for the genre-allergic, muscial-nomads they are. I think you’ll say this is up there with their 2012 work.

Tom Spruce