Dublin-born singer-songwriter Conor Dardis’ storytelling has remained humbly undiscovered so far on Soundcloud, but with songs as promising as ‘Accelerator’, it is only a matter of time before a wider audience will beg for more.
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The self-ascribed label of “immigrant suburban folk” feels stunningly accurate as Dardis comes in strumming his guitar from a distance, inciting a feeling of wistful nostalgia and separation from the hubbub of urban society. Accelerating his chords in perfect symmetry to his lyrics, Dardis invites the listener along on the “wide and clear” road to a new and improved future. The repetition of the chorus ‘accelerator / I’m a machine‘ comes with connotations of industrialised surroundings and almost suggests an idealistic wish to be better than human – which inevitably comes with past regrets of ‘losing control’ and ‘coming in too fast’. ‘Accelerator’ strongly evokes a sense of migration to a better life; the desperate longing for time to be on your side and to be in control of your own destiny.
Dardis’ husky, sonorous voice happily blends with lyrics steeped in matter-of-fact poetry and a chord progression that is reminiscent of earlier eras. At once hopeful and retrospective, he provides the perfect soundtrack to a Sunday evening.
Words by Kelly