The Dark Design

The Dark Design is not your average band. Its numerous members (somewhere between 2 and 10) span 3 generations, play instruments which are over 100 years old and have no inclination to 'make it'. So what on earth is it all about? Well in a huge nutshell, The Dark design is a semi linear Steampunk Rock Opera, part musical, part concept album, part theatre, part secret society, and part party. The story, if it has one, is the tale of Othniel Cope, whose attempts to flee the fictitious world of Lye Street (a novel by Alan Campbell) have lead to the formation of a cult like order comprised of misfits, time travellers, liars, cheats, grave robbers, vampires, buccaneers, spies, lovers, robots and even a ghost. Cope alone knows why each member is with The Dark Design, although there are clues hidden throughout the bands odd universe. A scrap of a comic strip on the facebook page, a musical interlude here and there, an old picture in an attic, or some backwards chanting on their recordings. As The Dark Design travel they play songs from their own world, using antique instruments like the Victorian Phono-fiddle (half violin and half gramophone) and some from the future like the thingamin (an unholy coupling of Theremin and Flux capacitor) Their shows are seldom the same and on occasion might include a narration, or a tap dance, or a show of sleight of hand. Their songs tell tales of Mermaid Queens, trips to Mars, bitter bitter love, advice on dealing with the Devil, and a warning to those who would fall in love with an automaton. Eventually in the future it will all make sense, but remember the future is a big place... One last thing... there's no getting away from it... by its very nature, to be aware of The Dark Design is to be part of The Dark Design and therefore you are probably now in danger, we're sorry about that, but if you find in the near future shadowy figures begin to appear on your periphery... get in touch as soon as you can because we can help. Meanwhile The Dark Design are preparing for the release of their début album Twelve Tall Tales on Steampunk Records.

Brighton, UK