The Fourth Wall - “Darkness Of Heart”
Photo by Lisa Haagen
From Portland, Oregon, The Fourth Wall have just delivered the enthralling and deeply ruminating “Darkness Of Heart.” Inspired by Joseph Conrad’s story, “Heart of Darkness,” this is easily one of the most thought-provoking tracks we’ve come across since the birth of our blog.
But fear not, thou who art without books, for “Darkness Of Heart” can also be enjoyed by anyone who hath ears. The song is divided into two sections, the first of which maintains an intimate, folksy vibe, with the relatively lo-fi sounds of acoustic guitar strumming across the top of a distant churning synth. The manner in which the guitar is played also provides a rhythm through a sharply displayed right-handed method, providing just enough of a bounce to stave off an overtly melancholic mood.
Fans of Elliott Smith’s soft and delicate vocal technique will very likely instantly be drawn into the moving sounds of “Darkness Of Heart.” It was upon the arrival of the vocal performance that we, indeed, knew we would fall in love with this track. And we did. Some deeper notes from a bass soon appear, offering a weight and width to the production that keep the track firmly anchored to your ears, ultimately ushering in a lead guitar that slices through the arrangement, trumpeting the arrival of the full band.
And thus, the second half of “Darkness Of Heart” begins in a wall of shoegaze glory that, upon first listen, took us completely by surprise. Drums smash their way through the soundscape as layers of guitar elevate the sound to world-ending levels. It is at this point that the vocals are joined with a soft harmony, maintaining their graceful form amidst the ensuing soundtrack to chaos. Please do not be surprised when you immediately wish to see this song performed live.
“Darkness Of Heart“ comes ahead of The Fourth Wall’s new LP, Return Forever, due out later this year via DevilDuck Records.
-HD