Dark Tropics - 'Carnival'
Roll up, roll up, as one of the great double acts - Dark Tropics - issue their new single ‘Carnival’, another slice of their own special pop-noir.
The Northern Irish duo say the track is “about an intense but fleeting holiday romance; one that stays ingrained in your mind forever”, and its boldness will stick with you and haunt you.
There’s an alluring sense of seduction, taking you to a darkened place in a good way, while Gerard’s cool, dark festival-style sounds are more resemblant of a park circus than Rio De Janeiro.
That’s okay, because the other Rio – the vocalist – towers over ‘Carnival’, captivating from the first line – “Together, my hand was shaking like a feather”.
Citing Cinderellas and senoritas, it has all the echoes of past Dark Tropics output, as they prove to be a main draw, not a sideshow attraction. Amidst the carnival-esque sounds, the vocals shimmer on the top, with Rio singing “higher, higher” in a way that makes the chorus float.
It’s cinematic, carving a picture in your brain. The band said it came together effortlessly over the final Covid lockdown, and they’ve been playing it live for over a year.
Dark Tropics said: “It was just a piano chord shuffle and a melody idea initially, but it was crying out for a big beat.”
Eventually they found the right rhythm, taking it to the stage for over a year now. Those experiences moulded the single version. “The first time we played it live at a show, we realised the key had to be changed so that Rio could really attack the words”, Gerard said. “It was also getting quite full with so many guitar parts, so we decided to lose them and record it with just the essential elements.”
Those core parts have made ‘Carnival’ understated, but another reason to celebrate Dark Tropics.
Words by Samuel Draper
