As with most things, it started with a text message. Darcy Malone’s father — Dave Malone of the Radiators — texted her a guitar riff he thought was pretty cool. Darcy agreed, and promptly put the file in music editing software to arrange it to a vocal melody she had in her head. The resulting song was “Meringue,” the lead song off Darcy Malone and the Tangle’s 2018 EP Pure as Gold. “Meringue” opened up a world of possibilities to Malone and her band. While the Tangle’s name is derived from the band — founded by Malone and guitarist/songwriter/singer Chris Boye — pulling from various influences to create a “tangle” of genres, the group’s previous efforts were based in rock music.
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But “Meringue,” with its echoes of 1960s soul-infused girl groups, allowed the band to follow its soul, funk, and RnB inspirations. The band took this energy into the studio to record Pure as Gold’s driving Motown rhythms, salsa lines, and gospel ballads. “This record truly epitomizes my love for 60s soul,” says Malone, “I’ve been wanting to make a record like this for a very long time.” Malone and Boye found the right group of musicians to help pull the band in this new direction.
Guitarist Rory Callais, keyboardist/saxophonist James Beaumont, bassist Smitti Supab, and drummer Terry Scott, Jr. are all veterans of the New Orleans music scene with styles ranging from indie rock to blues to jazz. Their various influences and songwriting input allowed the band to remain a “tangle” of influences, but one whose North Star is mixing funk, guitar fuzz, and jazzy saxophone over grooves and rhythms that can get any audience dancing.
As a result, as NOLA.com’s Keith Spera put it, “the songs are given room to breathe, the overall sound is more cohesive, and Malone has grown confident enough to highlight the grittier soul and blues hues in her voice.”
MUSIC
Album: Pure As Gold
Album: Make Me Over
Album: Still Life
“You know the T-shirt that says “I may be older than you, but I saw all the good bands”? Well, Darcy Malone saw most of the good bands—was even babysat by a couple of them—and she probably isn’t older than you. As the daughter of local music royalty, Malone grew up immersed in sounds from New Orleans and elsewhere. And as the frontwoman of the Tangle, she’s poised to add to the tradition.”
Offbeat Magazine by Brett Milano, May 2016SHOWS
| May 6 | New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – Gentilly Stage |
Fairgrounds | Tickets |