LOUIS INGLIS

Dark Days Ahead
Metal Postcard

Dark Days Ahead is utterly confusing and bewilderingly amazing. The debut album for self-proclaimed recluse and singer-songwriter Louis Inglis will take you on a musical and lyrical journey that will end with glaring at the animated album cover in frustration.

This is not easy listening – but if you can make it through, it is undoubtedly worth it. The album forces the listener to really take in and (for lack of a better cliché) feel the music. Many of the songs on this album are devastatingly dark, like the aptly named Sadtime. Lighter tunes like God Bless You will lull you into a false sense of security with a ‘60s sound and quirky keyboard, but listen closely to the lyrics and all the pretence will fall away.

Inglis writes, plays and records all his own music, and countless instruments are featured on the album, plus a few unrecognisable sound effects thrown in every so often – assumedly created through an old-school Casio keyboard.

There is nothing mediocre about Dark Days Ahead, and despite the sometimes rough recording, listening to it will ensure that you judge all other artists to a higher standard: if this is what one guy can create in his bedroom, what the hell is everyone else doing?

Like its writer, Louis Inglis’ debut album is a mystery. A mystery that you should definitely sink your teeth into.

_CHLOE PAPAS