Singer/songwriter Douglas Dare grew up in the small coastal town of Bridport in South West England. His elegantly moody, piano-based songs and haunting voice drew comparisons to artists like Thom Yorke and James Blake and eventually attracted the attention of London indie Erased Tapes, which specializes in releasing avant-garde music. After relocating to London, he signed with Erased Tapes and they issued his first EP, Seven Hours, in September 2013. An extensive tour with labelmate and similarly experimental artist Ólafur Arnalds followed before he returned home to begin work on his debut full-length. Collaborating with percussionist and producer Fabian Prynn, Dare crafted the dark, intimate ten-song album Whelm, released in May 2014. ~ Timothy Monger