The golden age of Westerns is long gone, but the fans of the genre have not died out yet, and, getting older, they are fondly looking back to a time when things were slower, simpler and clearer cut, both in the movies and in the real world. The musicians and film makers among these fans keep reminding their audiences via various references of atmospheres and story lines characteristic of the genre, for example by incorporating typical sounds into modern-day music. And everyone who grew up with Westerns, is able to relate to these references. One of them is twang, a unique guitar sound that also features prominently in Surf-Rock and Rockabilly. Thanks to twang and to the genius of Ennio Morricone, one of the genre’s cult composers, allusions to the music of Westerns immediately conjure up certain landscapes, scenes and settings.

The Other Sun, a dark rock project from Gothenburg, Sweden, are making very good use of the above-sketched, well-established sonic and story line connections on their debut album Daimon, Devil, Dawn, starting with the album’s name. Not only does the alliteration in the name mimic the sound of gun shots, the word “dawn” also featured in many a movie title from the Western genre, and as a time of day it was often an integral part of the story and frequently mentioned in lines of text (We ride at dawn. / We meet at dawn.).

I could go on with the references to Westerns (for example the mentioning of gold in one of the song titles), but that would lead us off topic. Because despite of what I might have made you think now, The Other Sun are not a Western revival band. Daimon, Devil, Dawn is more about reviving the ‘70s, music- and philosophy wise.  Apart from Western twang, you can hear the influence of psychedelic music as well as that of occult rock – that’s where the Daimon and the Devil come into play. And that’s not all. There are also allusions to Sci-fi – and to the band’s home country. At least that’s my interpretation of the blue-and-yellow design on the album cover looking like a part of the Swedish coat of arms. The album’s cover design in general, depicting an enormous bug at the entrance of what looks like a wasps’ nest, could have easily been taken from a ‘70s Sci-fi novel. Sci-fi and Western, although seemingly worlds apart, are related genres. The main characters usually encounter new people, explore new places, new ways of living, and venture where no one has gone before. All can serve as analogies for the search of a unique, inner self.

The music on Daimon, Devil, Dawn intertwines all the influences listed above and the end product is definitely an intriguing listen. With wafts of drug-infused air frequently crossing the scene, it is similarly nostalgic and soothing, unnerving and exhilarating. Some tracks, like Lion Spell and Conjuring Other, are slower and more introspective, more meandering and might require a bit of patience on the side of the listener, but in general the album is characterized by fluidity and flow.

Among the stand-out tracks is certainly song number two, Stalking the Stalker. Employing twang and film score music usually accompanying a lone rider, but also a bit of tremolo picking, the piece has really an unobtrusive, but still unusual soundscape and in addition features intriguing lyrics inspired by the poem “The Street” by Mexican author Octavio Paz. The album’s most memorable piece is probably Horizon Between the Eyes, grand and dramatic in scope and sound, a bit kitschy, too, but that might well have been intended. In general, the albums trajectory is upward and positive, the eight songs go from Shaking Ground to a New Dawn, with the latter piece featuring the fastest and most exciting tunes on the whole album.

If you enjoy surf rock, western score, ’70s rock, and bands like Tito & Tarantula, Deep Purple, and Virus, and last, but not least, if, like I, you enjoy good use of language and words, you will certainly find Daimon, Devil, Dawn to your liking. So instead of travelling to some over-crowded destination somewhere south, this summer, take an imaginary trip to the old West, to a fictional world in the universe, or to your uncharted inner self. Daimon, Devil, Dawn by The Other Sun will provide you with inspiration and a great soundtrack for that journey.

(8/10 Slavica)

https://www.facebook.com/theothersunband

https://invictusproductions666.bandcamp.com/album/daimon-devil-dawn