Deep Dive: Minute Taker – Into the Dark

Into the Dark is the first single from The Oblivion, the upcoming 80s-inspired album from Manchester-based musician Minute Taker, aka Ben McGarvey.

While McGarvey’s music sometimes glances at current trends, Minute Taker looks elsewhere for its heart and soul. Sure, you hear the echoes of 80s acts like Crowded House, but what makes his music, for example on Into the Dark, stand out is its craftsmanship.

It’s intelligent pop, as romantic and mysterious as the moors around Manchester, with lyrics that verge on the poetic, containing great gestures communicated with the slightest changes in tone in the vocals and arrangement. We’d like to thank Ben McGarvey for taking part in our Deep Dive series.

Genesis of the song and lyrics

You could say it’s a song about existence and our shared experience of the human condition. I was reflecting on the illusions, contradictions and flaws that define humanity and shape our fate. Despite everything we’ve learnt as a species, we still know almost nothing in the grand scheme of things.

With all the religion, science and philosophy in the world, nobody truly knows why we’re here, yet people claim to hold the answers to control or exploit others. Ultimately though, I wanted the song to serve as a reminder that, whatever the heck it’s all about and whatever future we’re facing, we’re all in it together!

Instrumentation and recording

I’d describe it as a haunting, guitar-driven synthpop track that echoes the cinematic energy of MTV-era icons like Tears for Fears, A-ha and Crowded House, with a touch of Thriller-esque drama!

It was quite a tricky one to write. I first recorded it back in 2020 but then kept returning to it over the following five years, rewriting the lyrics, changing the key and experimenting with different arrangements.

There were moments I almost gave up and left it off my new album entirely, but I’m so glad I persevered, as it’s become one of my favourites.

Where does this particular track fit within your wider body of work?

It’s certainly more guitar-driven than much of my recent material, but still has a strong 80s-inspired synth presence throughout. Lyrically, it’s a little more outward-looking – less introspective than some of my previous songs – exploring broader, almost philosophical questions about humanity.

But overall, I think it’s a good representation of my upcoming album, The Oblivion, which draws inspiration from 80s synthpop and movies like Blade Runner and The Terminator.

What are you up to in the coming months?

This song is the first single from my forthcoming album The Oblivion, due for release in early 2026. I’ll be launching a crowdfunding campaign this year, offering bundles of limited-edition vinyl, CDs and exclusive merch to pre-order.

There’ll also be several more singles, plus some music videos, leading up to the album release. So, it’s definitely going to be a busy few months! I’m really excited to finally share this next chapter – it’s been years in the making, and it feels like the most ambitious and cinematic project I’ve created.

For updates on The Oblivion and streaming options for Into the Dark – which can be downloaded on his webstore and Bandcamp – follow Minute Taker on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.