Black Hours – Saccharine (2020)
Black Hours is a unique meeting of some of the most exciting young musical minds in the UK. These young musicians include Corrie Dick, Tom Dennis and Tom Moore. Black Hours came together to bring the music of singer and guitarist Dave Malkin to life.
The EP Saccharine was produced by Malkin and features Timea Gazdag (vocals), Tom Moore (violin), Tom Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn), Matt Robinson (piano), Dan Mays (bass, clarinet) and Corrie Dick (drums). The combination culminates in an innovative and dynamic sound.
The EP opens with ‘Petrochor’, a track that perfectly introduces you to Malkin’s vocals. The simplistic melody highlights the lyrics and the emotion in the song. While the composition is stripped back, the mixture of brass, drums and vocals makes it easy to listen to.
The title track ‘Saccharine’ has a different tone to the first song. The music brings the title to life with a sweetness laced with indignation pulsing through the vocals and music. The harmonisations in this track combine with the violin to enhance the emotion of the song. There is a slight increase in pace, but this only furthers the tone of this song.
‘The Place Was A Wilderness’ is a short track and the most unique of the EP. It is a poetic track with a soft backing melody. The gentle guitar boosts the poem at the heart of the track and helps you absorb the spoken words. This track has an almost childlike innocence to it.
‘Secret Garden’ showcases the harmonisation of vocals from the very start. The track makes it easy to imagine the scene detailed in the lyrics. There is a sadness to the track that is highlighted by the lyrics. However, the song does have a sense of hope toward the end that makes you think everything will be okay.
The last track ‘Ophelia’ builds the scene of the song from the first notes. The deep notes of the opening give way to a softer tone with the horns adding to the tale. The song is a great ending to this EP and showcases all the musicians working on this project.
Saccharine is a contemplative and melancholic EP by Black Hours. There is a simplicity to the composition, but this only enhances the emotions and stories in the lyrics. Each track is emotive and you can feel the energy through the notes.
Find out more about Black Hours on their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
