Despite only being their first release, DARLING.’s debut EP showcases the duo as they step into the limelight with their expansive sound fully formed. It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise though; the group, made up of Caitlin Finn and Joel Glazebrook, have been active around the Brisbane scene for some time, but it’s the crossroads between their musical identities that gives DARLING. such a compelling edge, as they blur their shoegaze smarts with sharper post-punk tendencies and darker indie-rock atmospheres.

Opening track ‘Alistair’ is quick to reveal the tone of the new project, with its propulsive groove and wall of translucent guitars, while the pair’s looming vocals gloom through the mix. Next up, ‘Why’ is instantly more unsettling, with an uneasy programmed beat anchoring the song as swells of sound weave in and out around a melancholy piano motif that stretches out for six minutes.

‘Beth’ is similarly evocative, opening with a Radiohead-like tangle of yearning vocals and anxious drum machines, before ‘July’ shifts the pace with a sprawl of searing guitars over their most invigorating groove yet. Shining in its ability to never let listeners completely settle, the EP rounds out with ‘Annaleise’ and ‘Paradise’, two tracks that highlight the scope of DARLING. as they lean into ethereal-pop without hiding the darker undercurrents that ebb beneath their soundscapes. It’s an impressive debut release, with an allure that comes from the fact that DARLING. refuse to give everything about Into, Outside away at once; leaving us to discover enticing new details and mesmerising subtleties on every repeat listen.