Review: Mt. Desolation, Mt. Desolation
In an age of irony and cynicism, where passion and earnestness are more often questioned than admired, Mt. Desolation offers a welcome piece of gentle soulfulness on their debut. Their music serves as an excellent soundtrack to an afternoon of taking things slow.
Mt. Desolation was formed this year as a side project by Tim Rice-Oxley and Jesse Quin, two members of the successful English alternative band Keane. Inthis new group, they depart (somewhat) from their other group’s sound, Keane, for a more alternative/country feel. Mt. Desolation’s songs are driven by drums, guitars, and pianos, but Oxley and Quin don’t fear musical innovation either, working in electronic and orchestral instrumentation to their otherwise ‘traditional’ music.
Lyrically, Mt. Desolation explore a range of issues, from despair to love, heavily focusing on reminiscing and regrets. The album opener “Departure,” exemplifies this attitude: “I can sense departure in the air/ Now it’s only the past that we share/ Divided at a parting of the road/ Where I could ride on or lighten the road/.”
The lyrics can be difficult to decipher, perhaps somewhat intention of making the singing fit the mood of the album. Moments of clarity, however, stand out in the listener’s mind, as in the excellent “Another Night On My Side.” “Love has cut adrift/ on a sea with no waves/ I’ve got a heavy heart/ got to lighten my load/ baby/ I’m a planet just spinning out of control.”
Mt. Desolation offers a well blended mix of alternative and folk or country music. It is sure to satisfy fans of Keane, and has great melodies that will bring in other listeners who are not very familiar with either Oxley and Quin’s other work or alternative and country music.
8/10
Tad Bell, DJ of The Good Hip-Hop Show, Saturdays 4-5pm.
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