{"product_id":"darkland","title":"Darkland","description":"\u003cp\u003eMaston’s\u003ci\u003e Darkland\u003c\/i\u003e is a breezy collection of the material from the \u003ci\u003eTulips \u003c\/i\u003esessions that didn’t make it onto the original LP. Originally a digital-only release for those in the know in the autumn of 2018, after re-issuing\u003ci\u003e Tulips\u003c\/i\u003e in 2020 it made too much sense for Be With to give \u003ci\u003eDarkland \u003c\/i\u003ea vinyl release.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLike \u003ci\u003eTulips, Darkland \u003c\/i\u003ewas 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe collection plays like an alternate view of Maston’s instant modern classic\u003ci\u003e Tulips\u003c\/i\u003e; a companion piece to the LP proper with similar mixture of shorter themes and more full length tracks. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eDarkland\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe funky organ-led bass and drums workout “Immaculate Conception” will keep your neck gently snapping while MPC fiends go reaching for their sampler. And that’s gospel. “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 slow-mo wonderment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 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\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJust like\u003ci\u003e Tulips\u003c\/i\u003e before it, Simon Francis’s vinyl mastering for \u003ci\u003eDarkland\u003c\/i\u003e has been cut at 45rpm so you can trip out to this as well at a woozy 33 1\/3. The artwork too has been designed by Frank himself as a literal visual continuation of the Tulips cover.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Be With Records","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50427851997515,"sku":"1117436","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/edf75c39-7185-44db-9dcb-bc83238249fd_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726828007","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/fr\/products\/darkland","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}