The maestro of the sands, Alex Simon, alias Tone Ranger, is back and this time with another sonic mastery, ‘Dark Horse.’ This dark anthem, which veers away from the bright light of sound his tracks are usually associated with, swims into the darkness at the very core of the American southwest – at night.
‘Dark Horse’ is that track that catches the soul from the first note and holds it until the last. This composition is a tornado of sounds, each more intense than the previous one, with the composition’s rhythm held by the unity of the stalking bass and complicated rhythmic devices that soak the listener, creating a trance-like effect.
Raw and heartfelt, Simon’s vocal delivery adds texture and depth to the music as if articulating the motion of an individual lost in the vastness of a desert night. One can’t help but think of a restless spirit trapped in a night scene of vast unending sand—and every note escapes only to pound within the man’s chest, every note singing a dirge of defeat and discovery.
The ‘Dark Horse’ is proof of how flexible Tone Ranger is as an artist. He has delivered a piece that is both atmospheric and intense, an aural experience that begs for repeat listening. This is for all people who enjoy electronic and Americana music and appreciate a good song.