Makin Waves Song of the Week: "In Another Life" by Deardarkhead

by Bob Makin

originally published: 09/25/2026

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “In Another Life” from “The Pendulum Swings,” the first album in 26 years from the Atlantic City rockers Deardarkhead. PHOTO BY MIKE MANEY

“The Pendulum Swings” marks a remarkable return for Atlantic City rockers Deardarkhead, whose previous album arrived more than two decades ago.

Featuring an amazing video by Italian filmmaker Francesca Bonci (The Dandy Warhols), the Makin Waves Song of the Week is the album’s second single, “In Another Life.”

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “In Another Life” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Sept. 25 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin, Mixcloud and RadioJersey.

Built around soaring guitar leads and melodic bass hooks, “In Another Life” balances tension between crystalline guitar arpeggios, fuzzed out tremolo, and melodic baselines. Drummer Robert Weiss also was inspired by sitar music for the rhythmic droning lead sections.

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Visionary videographer Francesca Bonci also is known for her work with Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell, as well as Federale, aka Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Collin Hegna.

Fans of Ride, Lush, Kitchens of Distinction, The Veldt, Pale Saints, and Ringo Deathstarr also will enjoy “The Pendulum Swings.”

Produced, engineered and mixed by Brian McTear and Amy Morrissey (The War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, Sharon Van Etten) at Miner Street Recordings, Philadelphia, and mastered by Grammy nominee Joe Lambert, the album is a collection of both older and newer material, all of which is a source of great pride for the band, Robert said.

“Each song has its own distinct vibe, but they collectively make up the DDH sound,” he said. “This was the second time we recorded at Miner Street Recordings and we focused on trying new things with drum loops, different time signatures, backing keyboard tracks, using an ebow and bass VI, plus more guitar tracks than ever.”

Also featuring guitarist Kevin Harrington and bassist Brandon Howard, DDH recruited keyboardist Joe McGinty (The Psychedelic Furs, Nada Surf) to play on the album’s first single, “Letting Go.”

The record moves through shifting moods ranging from soaring, psychedelic-tinged guitar anthems to driving post-punk rhythms and more ambient, abstract passages. The result is a dynamic and cohesive work that highlights the band’s signature blend of shimmering guitars, pulsing bass, and powerful percussion. The band pushes the envelope with their instrumental approach, using drum loops, unusual time signatures, ebow, bass VI, and expanded guitar layering.

Taking their name from the 1867 Irish poem “Cean Dubh Dilis” by Samuel Ferguson — a work about a beautiful dark-haired girl — Deardarkhead formed in Atlantic City in 1988, the same year Makin Waves was launched. The band’s identity is rooted as much in mood as in melody. Their music blends atmospheric dreampop, shoegaze shimmer and ethereal rock, unfolding as an original, guitar-driven psychedelic tightrope walk balancing moody textures and shimmering melodies.

Since the album’s release bassist James Malizia has replaced Brandon. The band has built a distinctive identity since the departure of vocalist Michael Amper in 2009, shifting fully into melodic texture-rich instrumental composition. “The Pendulum Swings” marks their second full-length record on their own Fertile Crescent Records. Check the album out on Spotify and Apple Music.

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and Instagram and contact Bob at [email protected].

New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.