CharlestheFirst signals a new era with introspective single, ‘Out of the Dark’

When it comes to releases, acclaimed sonic storyteller CharlestheFirst (real name Charles Ingalls) has been out of the spotlight for some time now. Now the Lake Tahoe-based artist reunites with his fans via a psychedelic, genre-spanning adventure named after his recent all-unreleased live stream, “Out of the Dark.”

The single is CharlestheFirst’s first release since last October’s No Dimmer EP, and instantly reanimates excitement for his ever-evolving, always-innovative approach to production. Intentionally released on his birthday, “Out of the Dark” helps turn the page from Ingalls’ 2019-2020—coming out of the dark in both a personal and creative sense. The track also sets the stage for Ingall’s forthcoming second studio album, Solus, due out in early 2021.

‘Out of the Dark’ is my story of light peeking through pure darkness. This track’s creation made me realize the impending actualization of Solus and set the tone for the whole record.”

CharlestheFirst

“Out of the Dark” opens with a downtempo, astral arrangement quickly accented by distant, natural recordings. A light drum pattern kicks in early, which proceeds to welcome a coalescing of percussive elements. Like much of Ingalls’ previous catalogue, wondrous synths combine with a natural sound cache and carefully-crafted beats to form a more hip-hop oriented sound. These evolving patterns amalgamate until the song’s minute-and-thirty mark, when distorted vocals call out an “ode of love.”

After a brief break in direction, the two-minute mark introduces an amorphous house beat that escalates over increasingly energized basslines. Finally, listeners are pummeled with the track’s first wonky divulgence—warped bass sounds that flourish for 30 seconds before a combination of downtempo, house, and bass tastefully crash together. The various styles presented in “Out of the Dark” showcase the wide-ranging sound of CharlestheFirst’s upcoming Solus LP. At the very least, they simply showcase Ingalls’ ability to seamlessly tie different genres together.

Led by his enamored inspiration for the natural world around him, it’s no wonder Ingall’s art combines all these elements so naturally. “Out of the Dark” welcomes listeners back into CharlestheFirst’s sonic kingdom and promises even more adventures yet to come. 

CharlestheFirst – Out of the Dark

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