electronic press kit - bio
Darsombra, the pseudonym of Baltimore, MD guitarist Brian Daniloski, inhabits the nether regions of 21st century experimental music where traditions as disparate as doom rock, musique concrete, psychedelic, ambient, noise and neoclassical merge into a seamless continuum of sound. From monolithic and dense to minimal and shimmering, Darsombra explores the contrasts between light and darkness, the beautiful and grotesque.
Darsombra has released two full-length CD's, "Ecdysis" (At A Loss Recordings, 2006) and "Eternal Jewel" (Public Guilt, 2008), the "Deliriums & Death" EP (Public Guilt, 2007) and was featured on the experimental 3CD box set "Untitled" (Epicene Sound/Underadar/Public Guilt, 2007) alongside Thurston Moore, Burning Star Core, and many others. 2008 saw the release of "Nymphaea," a limited CD of remixed Darsombra material with an international roster of remixers.
Darsombra's unique sound allows for a comfortable fit on a wide variety of bills. Through relentless touring Darsombra has shared the bill with such acts as Mastodon, Growing, High on Fire, Wildildlife, The Thrones, Orthrelm, Torche, Don Caballero, Prurient, Today is the Day, Aluk Todolo, Jucifer, Kylesa, Destructo Swarmbots, Misery Index, Dysrhythmia, Floor, Rwake, Black Cobra, Skeleton Key, Mouth of the Architect and countless others.
In 2009 Daniloski introduced Darsombra to audiences in the UK and France as well as providing direct support for Stinking Lizaveta on their May U.S. tour. Early 2010 saw Darsombra collaborate with Ala Muerte on a live soundtrack to the classic 1920 German Expressionist film "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari." Current plans are in the works for European and U.S. tours in 2010. Besides Darsombra, Daniloski's extensive music career has included making music and abundant touring with Meatjack (of which he was a founding member), Trephine, Keelhaul, Ala Muerte and his newest project Ambuvega.
"There's a great deal of melancholic, mesmeric beauty in Darsombra's isolationist grinding and evil ambient shimmer. Simply glorious, it's Riley or Reich from a psychdronedoom perspective or perhaps krautrock's Achim Reichel & The Machines playing Black Boned Angel!? Imagine Expo '70 cloaked in black, performing a seance with Tony Conrad and Lustmord and you'll have an idea of how much we must like this!"
- Aquarius Records (Record of the week September 20, 2008)
"Darsombra takes the multiple overdubbing of guitar drones to near orchestral extremes. On "Auguries" and "Night's Black Agents" his stacked guitar lines hover and tremble like strings, the complex weaving and reweaving of their opppressive cluster chords more reminiscent of Penderecki or Gorecki than any obvious metal reference points. "Drops of Sorrow" uses the brief starburst sound of overtone harmonics to build a shimemring space you might expect in Steve Reich or Terry Riley. "Lamentings/Auguries", meanwhile has the same airless atmosphere of tightly controlled guitar tones being brought into reaction under laboratory conditions that Robert Fripp's Frippertronics releases tend to exhibit."
- WIRE
"Daniloski's range is impressive; unlike most drone projects, which often reveal their nature at the outset, Eternal Jewel is ever-changing. Daniloski fills in the spaces with oozing, buzzing malevolence. It's information-rich and requires active listening."
- Decibel
"If 2005's "Ecdysis" signaled mankind's damnation, Eternal Jewel is the day after. Less cacophonous than its predecessor, the drumless instrumental album is stark yet human, fluid yet polarizing, and firmly planted in minimalist composition. Manipulating his baritone guitar, effects pedals and ambience to beautiful effect, Daniloski creates a leitmotif-laden, sci-fi-ready suite in 40 minutes across five tracks. An outstanding art record that's as rewarding as it is demanding."
- Metal Maniacs
"Ethereal... It takes that 70's free space sound as a template but updates it with a heavier, teeth gnashing vibe that sheds away the beauty for an ugly, twisted form that is eventually faded away by an incandescence that cherishes gentle washes over pounding brawn. Darsombra strikes pure gold with this record... a sound that manages to balance the pain of old with a new found tenderness... a sound both wrathful and uplifting."
- Hellride Music
Eternal Jewel
press onesheet pdf from Public Guilt here.
artist
links label links publicity
darsombra.com
myspace.com/darsombra
Public Guilt
At A Loss Recordings
EarsplitPR