Darren Sullivan

Dreams of the Byzantines, the latest album from Darren Sullivan, hits that sweet spot where '90s indie rock, prog flourishes, and sun-drenched psychedelia all collide. It’s the kind of record that rewards you for showing up with your headphones on and your guard down. From the jump, I felt shades of Yo La Tengo’s warmth and, to a lesser extent, Pavement’s slack-jawed charm, but there’s also something a little spacier, a little weirder, that sets it apart.

“Bloom” opens the album with the kind of energy that makes you want to hit repeat before it’s even over. The drums carry a nimble pulse that keeps everything grounded while the lead guitar spirals into this unexpectedly clean, almost crystalline tone that gives the track a subtle psychedelic lift. “No Funny Games” follows with sticky vocal melodies and some genuinely original lyricism. There’s a playfulness in the arrangement, a series of sharp transitions that keep it from ever feeling predictable.

By the time I got to “Memory Found,” the mood had shifted. Sullivan lingers on the phrase “Just a memory found” over a guitar riff that felt lifted from The Bends era Radiohead, but made darker with these gliding, shape-shifting pads that fill the background like a dream gone sideways. The title track stretches out into a proper jam session, letting the band flex their technical chops without veering into indulgence. It’s one of the album’s trippiest moments and it works.

“Not a Moment to Waste” lives up to its name. It barrels forward with infectious energy and the drummer’s unique, almost off-kilter style gives it real character. “So It Goes” channels a ‘60s garage-pop vibe while “The Bounty” delivers some of the album’s most memorable vocal work. Closer “My Sister’s Friend” dips into Sonic Youth territory with a swirling, psyched-out ending that feels like a fever dream slowly unraveling.

There’s a lot to love here. The grooves are tight, the musicianship is locked in, and the songwriting never overstays its welcome. Dreams of the Byzantines doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it knows how to drive. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

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