DARKFISH : BEYOND
That's here. That's home. That's Us.
A captivating journey into the heart of electronic sound, a sonic expedition that blends sweeping ambient textures with a playful sense of wonder. This isn't just an album; it's an immersion, a gateway to a soundscape that feels both vast and deeply personal.
"Beyond" is a triumphant exploration of the intersection between technology and emotion.
DARKFISH releases debut album ‘BEYOND’ on 2nd July 2025
DARKFISH is an alter-ego for keyboardist/composer Sheila Maloney’s instrumental synth and keyboard-based work exploring soundscapes, atmospheres and abstract musical spaces. She endeavours to create a musical world that has its own unique sense of place; in space, underwater, or a place that exists solely in your imagination.
The first four tracks of Beyond started life as the soundtrack to an educational video commissioned by Castle Communications entitled a Tour of the Universe. This awakened an interest in music inspired by space, with Darkfish writing further tracks reflecting space exploration and culminating in the track The Pale Blue Dot, inspired by the image of Earth as seen in the photo from Voyager 1 as it left the solar system. More upbeat tracks represent a virtual journey through space from the planets to the stars, and the slower atmospheric tracks reflect the sense of vastness and beauty that we might experience when looking at images that show distant stars or Earth’s place in the universe.
“Darkfish music started as an exploration of synth-based immersive, dark, and otherworldly sonic landscapes,” Sheila explains. “On Beyond I use soundscaping and music as a metaphor for the character of planets, galaxies and a journey towards the stars. My aim is to connect the science to the music on an intuitive emotional level whilst giving a sonic image of the universe. When I first read the ‘Pale Blue Dot’ description of Earth by Carl Sagan, this resonated strongly with my feelings about our planet and how it is so small in the overall scheme of things, translating this into a delicate sparsely arranged track that reflects the single pixel that our fragile and beautiful planet takes up in a photo from so far away”.
Bandcamp Samples
Beyond : Samples
Explore the sonic landscape of DarkFish's "Beyond" with these short track samples. Immerse yourself in a world of ethereal soundscapes and captivating melodies, a testament to the power of electronic music. These previews offer a glimpse into the album's breathtaking scope, showcasing its unique blend of ambient textures and subtle rhythmic pulses. Discover the emotional depth and technical artistry that make "Beyond" a truly unforgettable listening experience. Dive in and prepare to be transported!
Reviews
Review: New Underground Music
The album has 9 songs all about space, like stars, planets, and where we fit in the universe. It starts with "Destination Forever," which is a cool, spacey krautrock song with dreamy vocals. Then comes "Endless Space," a great, slightly heavy-sounding space song that's not too fast. It feels a bit dark sometimes, but also peaceful.
Next is "Spiral Nebula," a beautiful, slow, relaxing electronic song with a new-age vibe. Then "Voyager," a fun, medium-speed song with a catchy beat and krautrock sounds.
In "Towards The Stars," Darkfish plays a nice, slow electronic song. "Planet Earth Is Blue" is a dark, slow piece mainly featuring awesome piano playing. And in "Leaving The Heliosphere," she gives us a lovely, slow, relaxing new-age song.
After that, there's "Gravity Well," an excellent, medium-speed electronic song with a catchy beat and some heavy sounds. Finally, "The Pale Blue Dot" is a slow song with a simple, hypnotic rhythm.
"Beyond" by Darkfish has 9 amazing electronic songs that kept me hooked from beginning to end. I highly recommend this masterpiece to anyone who likes this kind of music, especially "Planet Earth Is Blue," which is one of the best! (You can listen to two songs from the album using the Bandcamp link below the review).