Song Review - Ultimatum Talk

Ultimatum Talk

by Darling James

You know those moments that we’ve all had, the ones that side swipe you, leaving you unsure of what just happened and probably uncertain about where you’re heading, certain that things aren’t going to be the same as they were three minutes ago? It starts with an impressive ukulele, but even that wasn’t warning of what was about to happen. The threatening signs are there, a slow and steady caution, the gradual build of sounds that should tell you where you're going, but it's probably the vocal, the patient tones of James O’Brien that lulled me into a sense of security which all came crashing down a minute or so later and we arrive at some intense beats, some keys that have me on edge with every listen and the ever increasing but so enjoyable anxiety that ‘Ultimatum Talk’ creates. The debut single for Darling James is unnervingly fabulous, a journey that builds from comfortable to nervous to surprise to wow to comfortable again and it’s a journey I’ve been happy to take over and over again the last few weeks. Will hopefully take it again when they play Trainspotters in Brisbane on July 4 to launch the single, and looking forward to more moments like this as we discover more of Darling James.

Jo Michelmore gives ‘Ultimatum Talk’ three and a half Gotye heads out of five…