The El Paso/Juarez duo knows how to build tension without getting too heavy-handed about it, layering in dance elements and shoegaze textures while keeping those gothic vibes running underneath everything. You can tell these guys learned a lot from their last album, “Rhythmic Body Reflexes” because they’re playing with sounds here that feel both experimental and totally listenable, which is harder to pull off than it sounds.
The electronic parts don’t feel tacked on, and when the shoegaze elements kick in, they blend naturally with the alternative rock foundation rather than fighting against it. There’s this contradiction happening between happy and sad moments that could easily sound cheesy, but Sugar Scars manages to make it work by never overselling the emotional content.
“Dark Charm” gives us a solid preview of where Sugar Scars is headed with their upcoming album “Dark Spark White Light”, and if this single represents the direction they’re taking, November can’t come fast enough for fans of innovative electronic music. The track rewards multiple listens because there are always new details hiding in the mix, and the emotional complexity keeps pulling you back even when you think you’ve figured it out. Make sure to follow Sugar Scars on Instagram and Spotify because this cross-border collaboration between these multi-instrumentalists is definitely worth keeping tabs on as they continue developing their sound.
