Darren Middleton
More widely regarded as guitarist for dearly departed Brisbane powerhouse Powderfinger, Darren Middleton has quietly chipped away at his familiar yet maturely composed songcraft since his sleeper success with alt-rock outfit Drag. On Translations he presents that same knack for engaging melodies and driving motifs, but here couples it with homespun yarns amongst a loftier, intimate setting. Opener Can't Hide Sad sets the bar high: melancholic harmonies, string embellishments, lamenting vocal. His voice mixes croon and everyman storytelling and it's prominent in the more blissed out Failing Now. A variety of pace and structure keeps things fresh throughout this engrossing debut.
