The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light

The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light
Studio album by The Streets
Released	13 October 2023 (2023-10-13)
Length	43:54
Label	679 Warner Music UK
Producer	Mike Skinner
The Streets chronology
Brexit at Tiffany's (2022) The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light (2023)
Singles from The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light
"Troubled Waters" Released: 12 July 2023 "Too Much Yayo" Released: 18 August 2023

The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light is the sixth album by English rapper and producer Mike Skinner, under his music project The Streets. It was released on 13 October 2023 through 679 and Warner Music UK.

Background

Skinner announced the 15-track album on 12 July and shared a first song titled "Troubled Waters", which was described as "a dynamically-paced cut" that showcases "deft lyricism" on top of drum and bass beats.^[1] Considered a "classic Streets album", it is set to feature contributions by Kevin Mark Trail, Robert Harvey and Teef.^[2] A film of the same name will be released alongside the album, dubbed a "tripped out noir murder mystery based in Londons' clubland".^[3] He will embark on a tour through the United Kingdom in fall 2023.^[4]

Skinner first talked about the project in 2018.^[5] Back then he revealed that work on the album and film took "seven long years". After a few first attempts with shorts and music videos, he felt ready to make a film. Initially, he tried a "traditional" approach but soon realised to follow his instincts. As a matter of fact, Skinner took it upon himself to fund, write, direct, act, edit, mix and produce both projects all by himself.^[6] He further opined that both projects could not exist without each other, as the album works as a soundtrack and, at times, narrator of the film.^[7] In summary, Skinner described The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light as "all the fruits of a decade on the DJ circuit", impressions of people in clubs and back rooms, as well as "testing out beats and basslines to see what connected".^[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	74/100[9]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[10]
The Arts Desk	[11]
DIY	[12]
The Line of Best Fit	6/10[13]
Mojo	[14]
musicOMH	[15]
NME	[16]
Pitchfork	6.0/10[17]
Record Collector	[18]
Uncut	8/10[19]

The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light received a score of 74 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on eight critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.^[9] Joe Goggins of DIY concluded that while "there's the occasional lapse into self-parody, for the most part, [the album] has a vitality to it that was perhaps lacking by the time he wound down The Streets the first time around".^[12] Kathryn Reilly of The Arts Desk wrote that the "production is odd – as if he's grasping at an analogue vibe, with the lyrics turned up as high as ever. But if you liked the old stuff, you'll like this. Inevitably there's less bravado, less fire but the majority of it satisfies".^[11]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mike Skinner, except "The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light" written by Skinner and Virginia Liston

The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Too Much Yayo"	3:41
2.	"Money Isn't Everything" (featuring Teef)	2:56
3.	"Walk of Shame"	2:56
4.	"Something to Hide"	3:13
5.	"Shake Hands with Shadows"	3:26
6.	"Not a Good Idea"	3:25
7.	"Bright Sunny Day"	3:20
8.	"The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light"	2:40
9.	"Funny Dream"	2:56
10.	"Gonna Hurt When This Is Over"	2:58
11.	"Kick the Can"	2:10
12.	"Each Day Gives"	3:24
13.	"Someone Else's Tune"	3:10
14.	"Troubled Waters"	3:54
15.	"Good Old Daze"	3:10
Total length:		47:22

Personnel

• Mike Skinner – vocals, production, mixing, mastering
• Kevin Mark Trail – vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4, 11, 12, 14, 15)
• Robert Harvey – vocals (7, 10)
• Laura Vane – vocals (9)
• Luke Pickering – engineering (2)

Charts

Chart performance for The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light

Chart (2023)	Peak position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[20]	4
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[21]	57
Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)[22]	16
Scottish Albums (OCC)[23]	7
UK Albums (OCC)[24]	7
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[25]	2

References

1. Carter, Daisy (13 July 2023). "The Streets are back, announcing new album 'The Darker the Shadow, the Brighter the Light'". DIY. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
2. Stock, Olivia (12 July 2023). "The Streets return with first new album in 12 years, 'The Darker The Shadow, The Brighter The Light': Watch". DJ Mag. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
3. Hussain, Shahzaib (12 July 2023). "The Streets Announce New Album 'The Darker The Shadow, The Brighter The Light'". Clash. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
4. Anderson, Carys (13 July 2023). "The Streets Announces New Album The Darker the Shadow, the Brighter the Light, Shares New Song: Stream". Consequence. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
5. Taysom, Joe (12 July 2023). "The Streets announce new album and feature film 'The Darker The Shadow, The Brighter The Light'". Far Out. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
6. O'Connor, Siobhain (12 July 2023). "The Streets return with a new album and feature film 'The Darker The Shadow, The Brighter The Light'". Dork. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
7. Kelly, Tyler Damara (12 July 2023). "The Streets announce feature film and first album in over a decade on The Darker The Shadow, The Brighter The Light". Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
8. Pappis, Konstantinos (12 July 2023). "The Streets Announce New Album and Film 'The Darker the Shadow, The Brighter the Light'". Our Culture Mag. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
9. "The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light by The Streets Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
10. Monger, Timothy (20 October 2023). "The Streets - The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
11. Reilly, Kathryn (12 October 2023). "Album: The Streets – The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
12. Goggins, Joe. "The Streets – The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light review". DIY. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
13. Mills, Joshua. "THE STREETS - "The Darker The Shadow The Brighter The Light"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
14. Skinner's grown-up musings are more twisty and cryptic than his rascally early work, but no less incisive or well-wrought. Inimitable, humane, flawed, it's good to have him back. [Dec 2023, p.86]
15. Murphy, John (13 October 2023). "The Streets – The Darker The Shadow The Brighter The Light". musicOMH. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
16. Garratt-Stanley, Fred (18 October 2023). "The Streets – 'The Darker The Shadow, The Brighter The Light' review: evocative ode to club culture". NME. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
17. Pattison, Louis. "The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
18. Birmingham rapper returns to his breakthrough guise [Nov 2023, Issue 550, p.99]
19. It's a welcome return for one of Britain's most original and idiosyncratic artists. [Dec 2023, p.36]
20. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 23 October 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1755. Australian Recording Industry Association. 23 October 2023. p. 10.
21. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Streets – The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
22. "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2023. 42. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
23. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
24. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
25. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2023.