Originally planning on becoming country stars, Tim Rice-Oxley and Jesse Quin probably did the right thing by deciding not be the next Jesse James and Gavin DeGraw. I’m sure they’d both look lovely in cowboy hats, but they are from England.
Luckily, out of their original, Guinness-fueled aspirations, Mt. Desolation was born. A sound that’s a combination of bluesy rock and alternative country, Mt. Desolation has all the graces of the duo’s previous band, Keane, but is far more easygoing. After a couple of months of going back and forth, Tim emailed Jesse a very early demo of “Departure” and things got going from there. Recruiting friends from all over London, along with some help from producer Emery Dobyns (Noah & the Whale, Anthony & the Johnsons), the aim for Mt. Desolation was to sound as live as possible. There was to be no auto-tune for these two chaps.
And that’s what you get with their album, a very natural approach to alternative country. Yet, Rice-Oxley and Quin couldn’t be totally labeled as country. Although their music has all the folksy lyrics of a country song, it’s totally void of that southern nostalgia that country stars usually exude. In their newest work, the two Englishmen use instruments you might not expect to hear coming from two members of Keane. Dustbin lids and bullhorns are thrown in there and they actually do more for the album than you’d expect.
Mt. Desolation opens with instrument heavy “Annie Ford”, that is so Springsteen-esque, you might worry that they’re trying to fill shoes that just can’t be filled. No fear, listeners, this side project is merely just trying new things out. Going back to their Keane roots, the album carries on with somber “Bitter Pill”, that has the usual sad piano chords and dark, romantic lyrics from their mother band. Another noteworthy track coming from Mt. Desolation, “Departure”, features some sad elements in the beginning, but quickly picks up with a joyful beat and some uplifting lyrics as well. With a little assistance from the Killers’ Ronnie Vannucci, “State of Our Affairs” has a very beautiful pace that is set amongst bouts of violins and steady percussion. Throwing you into somewhat of a dreamlike state, this track is the perfect ending to Mt. Desolation and provides sufficient closure for the eager listener, no tissues required.
