Name: Darkland
Brand: Maston

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

BEWITH 096LP

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2021-07-23

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Forced Exposure

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

4251804123464

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

Maston

Genre US

New Psyche & Psyche Rock

Label US

Be With Records

Multi-instrumentalist Frank Maston grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles, soaking in both the summery atmosphere and the musical and cultural history of his surroundings. Early on, Maston developed a love for the sunny chamber pop of Van Dyke Parks and Brian Wilson, as well as more California-inspired moments of rock magic from Harry Nilsson and Phil Spector. He eventually sculpted these influences into what would become his own music, a completely self-sufficient menagerie of dark pop sounds informed by '60s and '70s studio magicians and loner geniuses.

In 2011, *Maston* put out a series of cassette albums under his own name. The following year, he signed to Chicago label Trouble in Mind, which released his proper full-length debut album called Shadows. During this time, he also played keyboards for Jacco Gardner while spending extended periods in the Netherlands. These experiences touring and living abroad lent a European influence to his second album Tulips, which was released on his own Phonoscope label in 2017. Drawing inspiration from French and Italian film music composers like Morricone and Legrand, *Maston* adjusted his focus from Wilson and Spector to create an entirely unique sound.

*Maston's* music can be likened to other artists such as Dumbo Gets Mad, Orions Belte, Monster Rally, PAINT,and L'éclair among others. His distinctive blend of

Maston's Darkland is a breezy collection of the material from the Tulips sessions that didn't make it on to the original LP. Originally a digital-only release for those in the know in the autumn of 2018, after re-issuing Tulips in 2020 it made too much sense for Be With to give Darkland a vinyl release. Like Tulips, Darkland was recorded mostly in Hoorn, in the Netherlands, between 2015-2017 during downtime from Frank's touring duties with Jacco Gardner's band. Bits were also done in Los Angeles on some extended trips back home. The collection plays like an alternate view of Maston's instant modern classic Tulips; a companion piece to the LP proper with similar mixture of shorter themes and more full-length tracks. Darkland opens with its ornate 39 second title-track before striding into "Tulips", that full-length title-track that never was. It's a real head-nod, percussive-rich electric piano stunner that would've been a comfortable standout on the album proper. But now this "downlifting" gem is given ample room to shine on this record. The funky organ-led bass and drums workout "Immaculate Conception" will keep your neck gently snapping while MPC fiends go reaching for their sampler. "Love Theme No 3" cuts a breathtakingly stylish vibra-slapped swathe through the middle of the opening side before we're startled by the pronounced bass and twinkling percussion of "The Owl In Daylight". Charming digi-drums underpin the wonky synth (quiet-)banger "Innovative Patterns" which has a lovely melodic switch-up in the final third before the tempo (and hairs on your neck) rise on the faintly creepy yet imminently groovy "Osiris". The gorgeously soft-focus "Groove Experiment No 3" closes out the first half in slo-mo wonderment. The lushly melancholic "Raincloud" ushers in side B before the emotionally-stirring "Phonic" taps at the door, coming on like the long lost sister to Pet Sounds' "Let's Go Away For A While". Next up, the swooning beauty "Love Theme No 2" keenly sways in front of you, growing ever more insistent and hypnotic. The too-short "Italian Summer" conjures the same flirtatious imagery as the title hints at whilst "Endless" is a fascinating "piano-pella" alternative version to "Rain Dance" from Tulips. "Wonder Theme" has a nostalgic, exotic 60s swing and album closer "Willow" is a hushed, campfire folk gem. The gently circular strumming is just magical. Mastered by Simon Francis.

Darkland

Music US