Desert Monkey’s debut EP explodes into action with the frantic raw power of title track ‘Made great by a breeze’. Primal tub-thumping gives way to the driving guitar riffs akin to Pearl Jam’s ‘Even Flow’. The Colchester- based outfit deliver an infectious chorus, conveying a message of youthful freedom (“Without a Look back, without your care”). A rootsy breakdown leads into a riotous ending and singer Lewis Spurgin brings the track to a climax with an impressive example of vocal sustenance.
The second track on the EP, Balance, marks a sharp contrast to the opener. A much mellower and more relaxed affair, the song shifts between rhythmic changes, building towards the weighty chorus. Again Spurgin displays a rough, raw voice, which shows a surprising maturity beyond his age, and the hallmark of a man with much potential.
Terpsichorean, meaning ‘of, or related to, dancing’ (ah, the magic of the dictionary!), begins with a trademark Chilli Peppers style intro and maintains this theme with a Flea-style bass break. The track incorporates some incredible lead guitar playing; featuring hints of the kind of Vai-esque runs and licks that have become fashionable again in mainstream British music with the success of the Darkness. This is not to say that Desert Monkey have jumped on the bandwagon, but rather the technical complexity of their guitar playing, as with the likes of the Datsuns, has become popular again and should find a wider audience beyond fanatics who take their Gibsons to bed with them.
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EP- closer ‘Easylong’, like ‘Balance’, is rooted in the Replenish-era ambience of Brit- Rockers Reef. Whilst it is possible to see a number of influences in the band’s work (Zeppelin, Sabbath, Soundgarden), Reef clearly seem to be the Desert Monkey’s chief muse. Easylong’s jazzy- bluesy riffs are interspersed with a Jane’s Addiction style refrain. The one fault I would highlight is that Spurgin’s vocals are much better suited to songs with the intensity of ‘Breeze’, than the mellower numbers.
Desert Monkey should be accredited for an impressive record. The band is clearly talented in terms of technical ability, and the EP would suggest a style of music that would transfer well to outside of the recording studio. All in all, the signs look good, and reflect a very promising act in the making.
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