My first taste of Desolation Wilderness was their 3-song single, Until Forever. I didn't say it in the review, but I made a mental note to make sure and get a copy of that "forthcoming K album." Well, that album's here now, and I have to say that it's a stunner that quite easily outshines that EP.

Okay, so that previous review pretty much holds true for White Light Strobing, except expanded. The hazy atmosphere is stil there, but the atmosphere is much less amorphous, while the songwriting is much more lucid. Occasionally, such as on "Forget Everything" or "Horizon Star," the record sounds as if it were recorded in a cathedral. Desolation Wilderness's lackadasical style reminds me of Galaxie 500; haze and muffled lyrics mixing together to create a sound that's both warm and cold. Honestly, I hadn't quite expected this direction for the full-length, but I'm certainly not disappointed by it. To me, it's the little things that make me like White Light Strobing so much; the gentle, hushed slide guitar in "Jupiter" is charming, the laid-back country strumming of "Road Song" makes me feel like I'm moseying down a dusty Western road, and the closing "USA Highway" is simply sublime in almost every way.

White Light Strobing is sublime; it reveals its beauty over repeated listens. It's certainly one of the prettiest records I've heard this year.

Listen To: Road Song

White Light Strobing is available now on K Records

Labels: Desolation Wilderness, K Records, reviews d

posted by joseph kyle @ 8:02 AM 0 comments

Desolation Wilderness Until Forever

Monday, June 16, 2008

Direct your attention, if you will, to the website listed below, wherein you will read about the band Desolation Wilderness, and, more importantly, can listen to the band's wonderful K Records three-song sexy new 7" single, Until Forever. The three songs found therein are small and fragile little things; gentle electronica blips and beeps reminiscent of the late-great 555 Recordings and, at times, Kranky. These three songs are all mood, atmosphere, and, occasionally, buried singing. The first song, "Goodbye Summer Girl," is a beautiful song with gentle waves of atmosphere and lyrics I am going to assume are very pretty. The singing sounds pretty, but you can't make 'em out. The next song, "Gloria," has nothing in common with the song "Gloria"--at least I think it doesn't. The final track, "4/4 Love Song," follows in the gorgeous instrumental meets blurry singing style of the first song.Oh, wait, there aren't vocals. I was fooled. You will be, too. The whole damned thing reminds me of why I fell in love with The Clientele, honestly. This record should have been out in 2000--it certainly sounds like something from those heady days! I'm thinking ISAN, I'm thinking Ma Cherie for Painting. I'll be honest and say that this is an exciting new release from a band you need to hear.

Listen To:Until Forever 7"

Labels: Desolation Wilderness, K Records, reviews d

posted by joseph kyle @ 6:35 PM 0 comments

Previous Postings