If you’re ever planning to cruise along route 66 in a convertible Cadillac, then Darker My Love’s debut album must be in your CD player. Or, as it’s an old car and probably doesn’t have an in-built CD drive, I suggest you record it to tape first, and then play it. The five-piece’s tie-dye Californian sounds are reminiscent of the likes of Stone Roses, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club with a pepper pinch of Dandy Warhols – perfect for those leather-clad wild times. Self-proclaimed psychedelic 60’s rock fans, Darker My Love are truly tripping-out its audience with their heavily reverberated guitars and epileptic beats. Every song in their self-titled album sends you into a daze-like state, creating images of hippies sitting in fields smelling flowers. The main masterminds behind this creation are lead singer and guitarist Tim Presley, and drummer Andy Granelli, who formed the band after meeting at high-school, along with bassist and vocalist Rob Barbato and guitarist Jared Everett, later joined by organist Will Canzoneri. Although Presley and Granelli were involved in other projects, the former with Nerve Agents and the latter in punk rock band The Distillers, they still found time to develop their own sonic sound, complete with extensive use of guitar feedback. ‘Darker My Love’ is a string-wailing, drum-thrashing, head-banging bonanza, so put on your leather jackets, slick back your hair and for goodness sake, put the record on.

The opening song, inventively called ‘Opening’ creates a mood I can only describe as making your legs go funny. The simple drumbeats are overhauled by an onslaught of guitars and vocals that sound like a two-minute chant to the spirits. The guitar riffs hook you straight away, resulting in an attempt to drone the lyrics, even though you probably can’t hear what Presley and Barbato are singing about.

‘Helium Heels’ is one track that makes its mark on the album. The intro and vocals ooze Black Rebel Motorcycle Club influence, with the lyrics once again being embedded underneath guitar feedback and treble booster. The song later morphs into one long guitar solo courtesy of Tim Presley, later leading back into the almost non-existent chorus. Making ‘Helium Heels’ less about lyrics and more about the music.

‘Claws and Paws’ is a repetitive song to say the very least, that is, until you get walloped in the ear by Presley’s guitar. Like many songs on the album, you have to be in the right mind-frame to listen to it i.e. drunk or on illegal substances. Nevertheless they do get your head rocking to and fro, I even found myself doing a bit of air guitar, which, seeing I actually have a real one, is very peculiar behaviour for me.

Don’t get me wrong, the boys sure have got talent. It’s just they’re not my PG tips. Don’t let my interpretations of their songs stop you from listening to them, as I actually think they’re pretty good. It’s just songs like ‘Catch’ and ‘I Feel Fine,’ I can’t help but feel are more likely to be listened to by my drugged-up ex-housemate. That’s not necessarily a bad thing (although the drugs bit is), Darker My Love are purely appealing to a specific audience; to people who reminisce about the 60s and want to roll in Glastonbury mud, naked.