Danny Peck - Where Hope Goes, Fear Follows (Self-Released)

Michigan artist Danny Peck, who is known for recording under names like dep and A Defiant Heart, returns with his latest offering, Where Hope Goes, Fear Follows. This album marks a significant shift for Peck, who previously recorded using tracker-driven software. Stepping away from what he saw as the confines of his earlier methods, Peck here embraces a more organic and introspective sound. This is also a more personal album for the artist as he muses on aging and mortality, and each track is imbued with his reflections on transformative life changes.

From the ethereal opening of “To Rise and Fall” to the angelic ambience of “Where Hope Goes, Fear Follows,” the album traverses an expansive soundscape that beautifully marries post-rock with electronica. What stands out in this collection is Peck’s ability to weave intricate melodies and lush sound design into a cohesive whole. Tracks like “Controlled Flight” and “Time is Not Real” showcase his newfound freedom in composition, where layers of orchestral textures envelop the listener. The sonic exploration evokes comparisons to the likes of Sigur Rós and Godspeed! You Black Emperor, yet Peck carves out a unique space that feels both personal and cinematic. Where Hope Goes, Fear Follows not only represents a culmination of Peck’s artistic journey but also further establishes him as a formidable voice in contemporary electronica.