by Nathan Cardiff

When Narkalark first released the single “The Metaphorest” this past summer, I was stunned. At over five minutes, it plays like an instrumental anxiety attack. An overture in bright pops and snappy drums, it twists and turns on an electronic driven joy ride into nostalgia. It sounds reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons; light and quick, a wild scribble that flies right at you. The fast pacing and layers of sound added up to a great summertime jam. Now that the self-titled EP has been released in the Fall, the song seems to carry a chill with it.

It’s a high energy record that transitions like the seasons. The brightness of the opening track takes a melancholic turn with “Wildflower.” The sad piano is a perfect soundtrack to leaves changing and falling from now bare trees. The dance ballad “Hideaway” carries the desolate winter with its heavy emotion and terrific guest vocals. The only track on the record to feature lyrics and it makes them count (“What once was yours is mine”) with an emotional punch. And like Winter, it now lays claim to everything in its realm. We then move back to Spring with “Deliverance,” featuring a high powered drum machine that brings us back to a world of fluorescent color and sensational warmth. Don’t let the short, four-song tracklist fool you; this a record built upon a beautiful natural theme and grand ideas. With its strong electronic presence, Narkalark has a knack for simplistic beauty and a talent for emotional composition.

Favorite Tracks: “Wildflower” & “Hideaway”

by Nathan Cardiff

Editor’s note: Narkalark will be playing an EP Release show at the Bottleneck this Friday along with Your Friend and Wolf, the Rabbit. You can RSVP to the event here.