THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dreams On Toast marks a bold new chapter for The Darkness. Featuring their signature blend of flamboyant rock anthems and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, this album cements their place at the pinnacle of British rock. Expect soaring guitar riffs, infectious hooks, and a nostalgic yet fresh take on the genre that will resonate with longtime fans and new listeners alike.
“You know that thing when God’s breath tickles your soul and tells you to create?” says singer-guitarist Justin Hawkins. “Yeah, makes me giggle too. But you can’t resist. God might not be the power she once was, but say what you like about her, she knows damn well that what the world needs now, is rock sweet rock. And who are we, mere mortals of extraordinary ability, to argue with the divine?
“So we knuckled down and thought really hard about the best of the best, the elite songs, the life-changing music of the ages. Then we popped out a dozen bangers before lunch. And these bangers we present to you here, wallowing in an aromatic aural ragu, served atop the charred remains of our envious contemporaries… ladies and gentlemen, I give you Dreams On Toast. Close your eyes, loosen your cummerbund, and enjoy.”
A lavish display of sonic delicacies, Dreams On Toast is a dynamic dish packed full of sure-to-be hits. This is no better demonstrated than with lead single The Longest Kiss. An upbeat classic which tips its hat to the ’70s pop genius of both Queen and Paul McCartney, it finds The Darkness dancing across jaunty piano keys and frolicking guitar licks in irresistible top form.
Justin explains: “Misty Orchards! That’s not my porn name; that’s the kind of scenery that I love. I awakened to such a vista in the delightful Scottish highland town of Nairn on the morning that inspiration for The Longest Kiss lyric struck. I was bleary-eyed and locked in an unending embrace with my (mid)life partner. Weird that I can still sing, but that’s a testament to the resilience of humans, especially lead singers.
“The music itself is a piano-led composition, the chorus of which my brother and I came up with after he’d taken a long time to empty his bladder during some impressive pub endurance. The verses were transposed from a song I’ve been working on for decades as part of a musical about the collapse of the Lowestoft fishing industry, called The Collapse Of The Lowestoft Fishing Industry. The musical isn’t finished yet. But The Longest Kiss is. The results are astounding. We’re all very proud of this.”
More than 20 years after The Darkness exploded with the big bang that changed the face of British rock music, their cheeky, Spandex-clad anthems continue to capture hearts, and a new generation of fans, around the world. None more so than Taylor Swift — who sparked yet another internet meltdown by singing along with the band’s eternal mega-hit I Believe In A Thing Called Love at the US Open. As a result, her legions of fans sent the track hurtling up charts across the world, reaching No. 1 in the US iTunes Rock Chart some 21 years after its release.
And now, with Dreams On Toast, The Darkness deliver another triumphant collection of solid-gold rock bangers and heart-exploding concerts.”
