Back in 2022, we described D’Arcy’s debut album, “The Art of Flying”, as scary good, and we meant every word. Now, just a few days over two years since her monumental debut, D’Arcy has once again surpassed our expectations with her sophomore release, “5AM”.
Musically, “5AM” delves even deeper into the electronica and EDM influences she began to explore in “The Art of Flying”, now incorporating progressive elements that create an even more introspective listening experience. Lyrically, this album reveals a much more tender and romantic side of D’Arcy, infused with a newfound sweetness. This evolution reflects a profound journey of self-discovery, both personally and creatively, showcasing her growth as an artist.
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“5AM” encapsulates the duality of the night—where introspection meets celebration. It navigates the tension between desire and anxiety and love and loneliness, creating a soundscape that feels universally electric and deeply personal. Through tracks like the titular “5AM,” “when I can’t sleep…,” and “insomnia,” D’Arcy weaves a narrative of having something—or someone—constantly racing through your thoughts, an inexorable force that grips you tightly. Yet, rather than feeling constricted and devastated, this experience invigorates you, making you acutely aware of what it means to be alive.
D’Arcy’s evolution as an artist shines through her ability to defy easy categorization, resisting the temptation to fit her sound neatly into a single genre. She flirts with alt-rock and prog-rock, subtly woven beneath the surface of her complex electronic compositions and arrangements. Pulsing house beats meet nostalgic synths. At times, the album is dense with vibrant textures and walls of sound; at other moments, it basks in minimalistic elegance. This dynamic range demonstrates her talent for crafting a coherent and compelling narrative characterized by emotional ebb and flow. There are moments when we feel as giddy as she does, while at others, we become calm and reflective, taking in and reflecting on the complex, often conflicting emotions she reveals.
D’arcy’s musical identity solidifies into a multifaceted crystalline structure, and her development is exactly what we anticipated: Complex, exciting, and groundbreaking. This speaks not only of immense talent but also of a truly unique musical perspective that can get fairly exotic at times but never loses its grounding and ability to connect with you.
If “The Art of Flying” was about crawling through darkness and freeing yourself from stagnation and doubt, then “5AM” fast-forwards that narrative, placing it firmly in “the real world.” Here, the beautiful metaphors of being and becoming give way to a rhythm of hard work and determination for a life worth living. No longer tethered to the ground, fighting for air, you are now fully immersed in the intensity of the beautiful emotions that the tantalizing horizon of the previous album promised, and though you’ve stayed up all night wondering the what-ifs or feeling butterflies in your stomach, the dawn is breaking, and it is time to greet the day…
