Desert Smoke Self-Titled CD Review
A dear friend got this album in for review, but he’s been under the weather a bit as of late, so I thought I’d check it out and see if I could speak on it in his stead. Granted, I’m not much of a fan of instrumental music, it tends to bore me, and I get lost in what’s happening. My A.D.D. kicks in and I go looking for shiny stuff...
What is Desert Smoke? Desert Smoke is an Instrumental/Stoner/Doom/Psych/Space Rock band from Lisbon. The latest from the band is a Self-Titled effort and it’s their 3rd release. I can’t comment on the others as I’ve never heard them, but from what I’m gathering here the band is well rounded at any genre you can think of, and they seem hellbent to show you just that. Musically, the band is all over the place – Space Rock, Psychedelia, Doom and Heavy Blues seems to get the most focus here. However, the tunings and approach aren’t typical of the previously mentioned genres, each of these 4 tracks has a classic vibe woven in the tapestry of the tune. I’m also quite fond of the quieter moments where the band is just vibing with softer guitar melodies – not everything has to be about how big the riff is. The recording of this album is well done, nice and dry and the highs and lows really shine through when needed.
While there’s a ton of music here to unravel, traces of bands like Stubb, Hendrix, OM, Sleep and Sabbath are clear and present. The band wear their influences like a badge of honor on these four tracks. Of those tracks I appreciate “Fuzzy Txitxu” and “Gravity Absence” the most. If you’re into Stoner/Desert instrumental tunes, you like to get high and take trips, this would be the perfect companion for it. It’s a nice trip, even though I’m sober, I can imagine how much fun I’d have if I were still smokin’.