Psychic Darkside Album Review: Not Your Average Trip Through the Electronic Cosmos
Alright, buckle up, because Psychic, the 2013 brainchild of Darkside (Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington), is not your run-of-the-mill electronic album. It’s like someone handed these guys a kaleidoscope, told them to make music for it, and they just... went wild. Released under Matador and Other People, this downtempo-meets-experimental gem feels like a late-night road trip through the desert with only cryptic radio static and existential thoughts keeping you company.
First off, let’s talk about “Greek Light.” This track hits you like that moment when you’re staring out the window on a long bus ride and suddenly realize life might actually be absurd. The slow-burning groove builds into this hypnotic swirl of guitar riffs and synths that feel both alien and oddly comforting. You don’t know whether to dance or sit cross-legged in deep thought—but hey, why not do both? It sticks with me because it’s one of those rare songs that makes you forget what year it is. Is it 2013? 1973? Or maybe we’ve time-warped straight into some dystopian future where humans communicate exclusively via moody instrumentals. Either way, count me in.
Then there’s “Paper Trails,” which sounds exactly how insomnia feels—restless but kinda beautiful. Imagine lying awake at 3 AM, watching shadows stretch across your ceiling while Nicolas Jaar whispers secrets into your ear through glitchy beats. This track has this eerie tension, like something big is about to happen, but instead of resolving, it leaves you hanging. And honestly? That’s perfect. Sometimes life doesn’t give you answers either, so why should music?
The rest of the album keeps things delightfully weird too. Tracks like “Freak” and “Heart” slap you with grooves so smooth they could double as massage therapy soundtracks. Meanwhile, cuts like “Metatron” and “Sitra” venture further down the experimental rabbit hole, proving that Darkside isn’t here to play by anyone else’s rules. They’re basically the musical equivalent of an avant-garde art exhibit—confusing at first glance but deeply rewarding if you stick around long enough.
So yeah, Psychic is more than just an album; it’s an experience. Listening to it feels like stepping into an alternate universe where all the best parts of jazz, rock, and electronica got together for a jam session fueled by coffee and philosophical debates.
And now for my parting shot: If aliens ever invade Earth and demand proof of our artistic capabilities, I’d hand them Psychic. Not because it’ll save humanity, but because I’m curious to see if they’d vibe with its cosmic vibes—or just be utterly baffled. Either way, win-win, right?
