The greatest new group in the world is Total Fucking Darkness (Torquil Campbell, the endlessly effusive, increasingly bald member of Stars, and Stephen Ramsay, the gentle giant behind Montreal’s Young Galaxy), partnered with English studio genius and synthesist Tom McFall (whose engineering credits include the likes of REM, Bloc Party, Twin Shadow, Regina Spektor) release their latest single, “Desolation Boys” – a chaotic blend of plastic pop, nihilistic hand bag house, and razor-sharp absurdity. 

Born out of a manic 72-hour writing spree with McFall flying in from London, “Desolation Boys” encapsulates the band’s volatile energy. It’s the sound of three middle-aged men with practically nothing left to lose trying (and failing) to drop the weight of the world from their shoulders – unruly, unpolished, unfuckable with, and, in their own words, “vaguely not boring.” 

Written in the final hours of a grueling session, “Desolation Boys” showcases TFD’s menu to thrilling effect: Maximum Creative Violence Immediately. The song features a mix of savant-like lyrical spontaneity and a raw vocal take where Campbell can faintly be heard yelling, “go fuck yourself,” mid-chorus. Who is he instructing? Probably himself. 
“Desolation Boys” reflects the band’s ongoing exploration of themes like the utter futility of existence, the exciting pointlessness of class war and the rejection of everything that doesn’t BANG.