Last year, when Auckland-based outfit Daniel Armstrong & The Monsoon’s dropped their debut single Just Won’t Stop, we were immediately on board with their vintage, gothic sounds. The band take elements from a range of genres, spanning multiple decades, and blend them together to craft a sound unlike anything else currently making the rounds.
Now, with the release of their debut full-length self-titled album, they continue to build themselves as an emerging band to watch. If you’re not already familiar with this band, we strongly recommend you change that now.
On their sprawling debut self-titled album, Auckland-based outfit Daniel Armstrong & The Monsoons present a cinematic slice of gothic brilliance.
Throughout the new album, Daniel Armstrong & The Monsoons glide through a concoction of alt-rock, country, folk, grunge, and goth to deliver a sound uniquely their own. With rich instrumental arrangements and endearing vocal melodies, they’ve created something that feels simultaneously familiar and fresh.
The album’s opening track Modern Plato is an epic slow-burner that builds into a catharsis of scuzzy instrumentation. From here, the album pulls in myriad directions – it never sits in one place for too long.
One moment you’ll be caught inside a frenzied burst of old-school rock n’ roll, and the next you’ll be floating through a dark and cinematic slice of country-tinged goth-rock. The result is one of the most dynamic listening experiences we’ve come across in some time.
These are still early days for this Auckland-based outfit, but judging by the quality of what we’ve heard so far, I think we can safely expect plenty more quality tunes.
For now, do yourself a favour and listen to the new album above.
