TIMOTHY DARK: Darkroom

Timothy Dark

Darkroom

© 2007 Timothy Dark (634479542398) (format: CD-R)

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The disc is a wacky mash-up of rap and lounge musician rock with oddly folky textures, half serious lyrics and guest vocals by Nellie McKay. — Time Out New York

notes

NYC Hip-Hop “Warrior” TIMOTHY DARK Delivers
DARKROOM

Spiritual Amalgamation of Rap, Rock, Funk & Country Features Guest Vocals by Nellie McKay

New York, NY – NYC Hip-hop artist Timothy Dark follows up his Darkness Breaking EP with the release of his third full length Darkroom. An amalgamation of rap, rock, funk and country music, the album was recorded primarily at Active Soundz Studios in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and takes you on a high-speed, multiple genus adventure into Timothy’s own “Darkroom”… the place he says all his ideas are spawned.

“The Darkroom is part insane asylum and part blissful sanctuary,” says Dark. “It can be anywhere. It’s the place where I take my daily stress to be converted into works of art.”

Co-produced by the Dark Warrior and John Zay from the alternative rock band Speed of Life and mastered by Nathan James (Staind), the album features long-time friends and collaborators; Lizh from Pillowtalk and former Sony recording artist/actress Nellie McKay.

“(Tim is) a good rapper who doesn’t sacrifice eloquence for compassion,” raved Nellie McKay, Tim’s long-time friend who is featured on the Darkroom track “Better Dayz.” McKay enlisted him to be the Rap Consultant on her critically acclaimed debut, Get Away From Me (Columbia) and was also featured on his album Dark Journey.

The self proclaimed leader of the Renaissance lives up to his name as Darkroom transports you back to the exciting, almost innocent beginnings of Hip-Hop while still managing to open a bright and inspirational new chapter in music. Like his two previous albums, Dark Warrior and Dark Journey, it manages to stray away from most the subject matter covered by most of today’s rap albums but still comes across raw and edgy.
“I wanted to come as underground and different as the first album and as spiritual and inspiring as the second, but still have a tight, fun record. I think sometimes we artists just think too hard and worry too much about pleasing everybody. We try to give the labels what they want and forget about ourselves in the process.

Progressing from his previous releases, Dark broadens his range vocally on this release, adding his soulful croon to the mix in addition to his polyrhythmic rhymes. From the bellowing opening vocal cadence of “Darkroom” to spiritual praises on “Letter 4 the Lord,” the orchestral backings of “Krashing Down” and the syncopated trills throughout “One More Time,” Darkroom shows the Warrior’s growth through not only lyrics and themes, but also in scope and musicianship.

Previously produced by others, Tim wanted to stay close to home in the making of Darkroom. “This time I didn’t want to call in outside producers,” reflects Dark. “I wanted to do it all myself but Zay knows I plan to bring the renaissance and he worked with me on the first album, so I knew he would be a good corner man. He took what I produced and made it better. I felt like a parent sending my kids to get cosmetic surgery. You're going to be a little nervous, but you know it’s going to be ok because you have a doctor you can trust working on them."

For more information on shows, videos, various musings and shout-outs and anything else you may need, go to www.timothydark.tv.



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  • author: John Newman Random Tracks

    The music of Darkroom takes us on a journey through an urban landscape, full of hypnotic beats, danger, and redemption. Its master, rapper Timothy Dark, takes us to the place where faith meets the street. It's never preachy, never apologetic, and completely cool. The majority of the songs on Darkroom, Timothy Dark's fourth solo CD project, reflect the paradox of living in the world, a life on the street full of danger and desire, but always striving to reach for the spiritual, to find the grace in all of us. At times it's a bit uneven, but the layered rap, (sung) vocals, and driving beats never fail to get you moving, physically and emotionally. The title track, Darkroom, is a combination of killer dance beats mixed with hypnotic rap. Darkroom is a metaphor for dark times in our lives. It reflects very uncomfortable themes, but offers hope to us by turning to God. The second track, A Letter 4 the Lord, features Lizh - an incredible female vocalist - along with Timothy Dark's own amazing rap, and compelling lyrics. The next track, Rock U, features Lizh, again (honestly, I love this lady's voice) along with something I've never heard in hip-hop before, tremendously cool electric guitar work. Even my guitar-player friends were blown away. The music continues with Krashing Down, a surprisingly fresh mix using older 80's synth sounds. A compelling collage of rhythms and timbres, layered with rap and sung vocals, makes the construction of this piece very cool. I couldn't help it. I had to get up and dance. Memories of S.A.L.L.I is a trippy song, seemingly about unrequited love. It's almost psychedelic, and purposely over-the-top. The beat is absolutely infectious. As a side note, the S.A.L.L.I. reference in the title made me wonder. S.A.L.L.I. is a workers union for prostitutes and other "sex workers" run out of Finland. I don't know whether Dark knew about this when he wrote it, or not. It made me wonder if it's just about lost love or about the illusion of love that prostitution promises. Either way, this tune hit me right between the eyes. The closing track, Better Dayz, features Nellie McKay, a hot young talent currently signed with Sony. Possibly the darkest song on the album (what did you expect from an album entitled Darkroom? Cotton candy and daisies?), it's a lament on how things are getting bad due to the influence of drugs, gangs, and violence. Surprisingly, it also addresses how racial/cultural stereotypes affect the very cultures they stereotype. Full of ominous, compelling warnings, it provides the perfect bookend to this amazing CD. Darkroom is not for everyone. If you don't like hip-hop, you probably won't like this album. If you're craving something fresh and original within the hip-hop scene, though, this album is worth checking out. It is truly original, showing that spiritually themed music doesn't have to be sappy, doesn't have to be apologetic, and never has to compromise its vision. With Darkroom, Timothy Dark has created a work of true urban artistry that will be adorning my CD player for some time to come.

  • author: Time Out NY

    The disc is a wacky mash-up of rap and lounge musician rock with oddly folky textures, half serious lyrics and guest vocals by Nellie McKay.

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