It’s a sad irony of the music industry today that the boldest artists seem to gain the least recognition. The Darlingtons are the latest in a prodigal string of unsigned bands blazing a trail through the uncharted depths of the British musical world. New single ‘Rotations’ – out Monday – is their latest statement of intent.

It’s easy to see why the four-piece have been long-listed for Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent Competition. The powerful oxymoron of hopeful anguish exhibited on ‘Rotations’ alludes to the melancholy New York sound popularised by the likes of Interpol and The National throughout the 2000s, with an added vocal hoarseness that only serves to amplify the beautifully sombre sentiment emanating from the song.

‘Build me up, break me down, and pray for the rain again’ is the soulfully repeated line at the heart of the track as its coarse guitar sound crescendos towards a slow-to-fade graceful fuzz of an ending, like a haze descending in a similar vein to the rain described. It’s fair to say this is a four-minute dose of enthralling atmospheric rock.

If music is about deep feelings, these guys have chiselled it down to a fine art; ‘Rotations’ is as much a detour into a temporary state of reverie as it is a song. If this is what it feels like to lose yourself to the world of The Darlingtons, I can’t wait for more.

Tom Hancock