Once declared Dublin’s best kept secret by this very mag, Darling look destined to become so much more than that with their much-anticipated debut. Every bit as stadium-sized as we hoped it’d be, Gary Harding and James McGuire’s opus pays tribute to indie’s ‘80s and ‘90s heyday, while also keeping proceedings fresh and modern. An LP about love and friendship, Darling is devoted to hooks throughout its ten tracks, and there are plenty of moments which enthrall.
Opening with the title-track, the galloping chorus could cleave the American market in two for them, and it’s a rousing call to arms. ‘You Stole The Words From My Mouth’ is another gem, thanks to an incendiary guitar solo and a monster hook, while ‘Screaming Bloody Murder’ sees the duo explore their dark side, and deliver a delicious rocker in the process. Occasionally borrowing a few fragments from the songbooks of U2 (‘Heartbeat’) and Coldplay (‘Bright Light Switch’) along the way, Darling may very well be the soundtrack to the summer.