Album Review: The Darling Downs - In The Days When The World Was Wide

The title of The Darling Downs' third album sounds like a prescient statement on the shrinking scope of the modern age, but it's fittingly the title of a 19th century Henry Lawson poem – Oz rock legends Kim Salmon (The Scientists, Beasts of Bourbon et al) and Ron Peno (Died Pretty) have been looking to the past for this project since its inception, bringing refinement and reflection where they once peddled decibels and debauchery.

Their first album together in six years focuses slightly more on the folk rather than the country, starting slowly with the languid pairing of Saved and Forever Night – Peno's still luxurious voice abetted by Salmon's deft instrumental skills – the tempo lifting only slightly for Down To The River, making for a considered and ruminative beginning. The Stones-y Wish You Were Her cranks things up a gear, before There Were Tears strips back to banjo and fiddle, riding atop a captivating vocal melody. The mournful I Don't Care leads into the Triffids-esque Between The Forest And The Trees, which in turn segues into the bluegrass-tinged pomp of Higher When They Fall. The bright build of the beautiful Light Of The World and the sparse, banjo-riddled Like Desire bring things home, before closer Your Face reminds of the zenith of Ed Kuepper's recent (excellent) work.

In The Days... possesses a spiritual and somewhat cerebral power, much of the punch derived from deferred reflection rather than direct reaction, but that doesn't lessen its impact. Given the pedigree of the artists involved it's unsurprising that they're once again triumphant; facing the relentless march of time has never seemed so graceful.