 Orquesta
Del Desierto
Self-Titled CD
MeteorCity
Genres: desert rock, blues, stoner rock
MeteorCity Records
PO Box 40322
Albuquerque, NM
87196
July 15 - 21 2002 |
Perhaps
as another of MeteorCity's roster-diversification measures, they've
enlisted the talents of Orquesta del Desierto, a seven-piece
desert-rock band that stays calm more than they rock out. With three
members dedicated solely to playing guitar (and a fourth guitarist who
also covers bass and organ), you can see what direction they're
pointing in - guitars make up most of the album's foundation.
Many of the songs are atmospheric and surreal; "Globalist
Dreams", for example, sounds kind of like Cerberus Shoal
covering a Pink Floyd tune. Meanwhile, "From This
View" is a stoned-out prog track that's been infused with
psychedelic harmonica-playing and powerful vocals. This may come as a
surprise to fans of the band members' other projects - including Kyuss,
Goatsnake, Queens of the Stone Age, and Wool -
but after hearing this, you may start to think that they've found
their true calling in Orquesta Del Desierto.
There are, quite simply, no faults here - this is a beautiful,
potent album that gives just as much attention to pop hooks as it does
to atmosphere. As you can imagine, the results are astounding. While
this may be far off from the traditional definition of "desert
rock", you'll have no problem understanding why it's been given
that label, and even less trouble understanding why I call it called
"excellent". This is, quite simply, the penultimate desert
chill out album.
88%
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
41 min 5 sec; ten tracks; distributed by All
That's Heavy; released 21/05/02] |
