L.A. producer Alfred Darlington, better known as Daedelus, has been on the scene for quite a while now and is never short in the volume of his output. However the quality of this volume is a different story and while it’s been interesting seeing him try out new things over the years, with his latest album it is different entirely. This time it’s something you wish no one had to try out; coping with the loss of family and friends.

The first and final tracks on ‘Drown Out’ sum up what is to be expected of the entire album. The introductory track Flat Faded broods with dark, ethereal beats that loom over the ghostly b-movie sounds that lurk in the background, while the soft and continuous guitar notes of Eureka on top of skittering and shifting percussions completes the biography of ‘Drown Out’ front to back. Sprinkle some reoccurring auxiliary elements like the calm Boards of Canada-like synth lines on the likes of Paradiddle and even some hints of witch house in the penultimate track Red-tail & Peregrin and there is no shortage of tones to help create a view of someone wallowing in the dregs on the lookout for hope.

There’s nothing gut-wrenching or profound going on here, but nothing entirely dull either. It serves more to capture a certain sound rather than a collection of gratifying tunes for a mass audience. ‘Drown Out’ attempts to produce a resonating tone, as if it’s trying to communicate with this melancholic voice (and Morse code) that only those familiar with prolonged bouts of sadness after mourning can hear.

With the amount of material and sub-genres Daedelus has worked in throughout his time on the scene, it acts as a fairly ‘traditional’ album in Daedelus’ sense – as his quirky soundscapes are still there – but instead of operating in the upfront and challenging way we’re used to with Darlington’s work, it’s more of a comforting soundtrack that acts as both a handshake and a farewell. At least it’s a farewell you can groove along to.