Darkstar: News from Nowhere – review

Those familiar with Darkstar's signature single, Aidy's Girl Is a Computer, may find their reinvention startling. The trio have moved from Hyperdub to Warp, stepped away from glitchy dubstep and fallen headfirst into hazy, Animal Collective territory. It's a flattering makeover, however, taking an indieish dreamscape sound usually dominated by US bands and dressing it up with a flourish of British nightlife. A Day's Pay for a Day's Work is rich with beautiful, Beach Boysy harmonies, but the beat has a woozy nowness that gives the feel of a bleary-eyed 5am walk home through the city. There's a delicious rubber-limbed looseness to Armonica, and the elegant Young Hearts waltzes towards gorgeously robust layers of cool synths. What an unexpected treat.