Review: Darling West soars through the ‘Cosmos’

Since the dawn of time, humankind has sought the knowledge and power of the heavens. Either in ancient texts, such as the Bible or Quran, or the literal stars overhead, we’ve moved about the world with a desperate need for answers. With it, there comes a desire for introspection, excavating parts of oneself to better understand how one feels and behaves. Such is the case with Darling West’s new record, Cosmos, from which light radiates with glorious magnificence. It’s no surprise, then, that the band — led by Mari and Tor Egil Kreken, alongside star players Thomas Gallatin and Christer Slaaen — vaulted to Giske island off Norway’s west coast to write and ruminate.

“Awake, here I am, overwhelmed by regret and recognition,” Mari sings on “Oh Love,” a musical cleansing that encourages the listener to follow “the healing light.” The quartet shakes loose their restless, world-weary spirits with delicately-brushed portraits, often feeling as though one is witnessing a baptism. 10 songs (all self-produced) sweep across the skin, offering a salve to all who partake. Darling West takes a snapshot of an “Old Man,” a gentleman etched with wrinkles and wisdom, with a stunningly haunting ballad, with strings quivering in the background. The way the unit sculpts caramel-rich compositions is impressive. Not a single verse is ignored, and nary a chord is untouched with harmony and heart-palpitating earnestness. In such a pure form, Cosmos swallows you whole, an immersive renewal from head to toe.

“Knowing that when things look bleak, there is light ahead!” the band pronounces with “Light Ahead,” one of many essential pillars on the record. “Still Here” nearly crumbles in their hands it’s so fragile, whereas “Wild Dreams” is reedy and of the earth. It all leads, spiraling through the wooded countryside, into the “Prelude” and closing track “Echoes,” in which the band unloads their luggage from long travels. “My journey might sound tempting, but it’s hard to stay on track,” they sing, ricocheting off one another. It’s both forlorn and hopeful, as they navigate the world they learn how to let whatever be what it is. Sometimes, you just need to savor it before you can move on to what’s next.

Cosmos is Darling West’s richest, most compelling work to date. Within its yellowed pages, you may just find the hope you’ve been longing for and wash away the soil of the day. It’s the kind of record you just can’t ignore.

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