Night Watchmen

Released between God Bless the Conspiracy and Is This Now? (under aliases Sandoz and Trafficante), Richard H. Kirk's debut with the Dark Magus moniker slipped into the soft, slow-going electronic processes of much of his other output but gave it a funky, almost trip-hop spin. It proved, perhaps, that Kirk was loosening up over the years, making subtle stylistic progressions in his own little corner of the bedroom universe, with little of the self-absorption commonly found in prolific personalities. Highlights "In the Blood" and "Nothing Has Been Said" were unobtrusive and clever, like an antisocial Aromabar or Massive Attack after an intensive shopping spree through the Eighteenth Street Lounge Music back catalog.