Signal and Noise

 

Sacramento’s Desario has released their fourth album!  This is a great surprise, because it’s their first new material since 2016.  When they released two fantastic EPs that year, for some reason, I thought more new material was right around the corner.  Instead, over a year later they compiled the two EPs to create their third album, III.  And now five years later, they are back with more! 

Since Desario’s first album back in 2009, they’ve been slowly evolving.  The four-piece create a smooth, but intricate post punk sound.  The evolution has come with songwriting.  They have become more direct over the years, and a little edgier, without losing their hypnotic sound.

First of all, Signal and Noise, is immaculately recorded by guitarist/keyboardist, Michael Yoas.  The sound is tight and beautiful.  There seems to be an added layer of atmosphere from keyboards and a tightly wound buzz that moves through these songs.  I also noticed that even though the songs in general have become more spacious, making room for John Conley’s vocals over the years, his voice feels like it’s mixed a little lower here.  Whatever, the case, the entirety of side one is super catchy and a pleasure to hear, highlighted by the bass intro of “Throw it Back.”  This song displays the twin guitar strengths of Conley and Yoas perfectly all in a haunting three-minute pop song, as does the Holiday Flyer reminiscent “Nevergreen.”

Side two opens with my favorite song on the album, the mesmerizing “Things We Left Behind.”  This song is so powerful in so many ways.  It reminds a bit of their ‘sister’ band Soft Science with its keyboard background along with that grinding buzz.  It is truly a transporting song.  It manages the trick of being super dreamy and massive sounding.  The final songs feature Mike Carr’s wonderful basslines (especially the closer, “Eraser”) within wistful sounding nuggets.

These guys will likely never be a big ‘buzz’ band, but whenever and whatever they do, I am here for it!

(https://fortlowell.bandcamp.com/album/signal-and-noise)

Desario "Things We Left Behind"

Red Returns

Desario

Red Returns EP

(Test Pattern)

I’ve not yet had the privilege to see Sacramento four-piece Desario live, but with this terrific new EP, I feel like I’ve been transported into a small dark club hunkered down near the stage completely entranced by their exciting sound.  I’ve already loved their first two albums for some time now and their tight detailed twin guitar interplay has continued to grow on me, but these four new songs feel a little different - a little more urgent and alive.  Where those first two LPs (2009’s Zero Point Zero and 2012’s Mixer) were very cleanly recorded, this recording is grittier.  It’s a mild change up, as they have not lost their knack for stellar guitar melodies from John Conley and Michael Yoas, but now new drummer’s Kirklyn Cox’s pounding is more dynamic and upfront, and the bass-lines crackle like you’re seeing Mike Carr pluck the strings in person.

The EP opens with the timeless sounding “Fallen,” whose chorus, rides atop a burbling bass-line, feels like it’s been a part of my list of favorite all-time songs for years.  Conley’s, always calm and friendly vocals do not betray the turmoil and increasing intensity that the music describes.  It’s a wonderful combination.  Meanwhile, “Capture” opens with a wistful and longing guitar line that harkens back to The Ocean Blue’s incredible “Drifting, Falling.”  The upbeat “Down Among Them” may be Desario’s shortest and most direct song, and much like “Fallen,” the song increases in density and urgency as it progresses.  Finally, the closing, “Red Returns” stretches out a bit, as it details the desire to rid oneself of all memories, contact and feelings of a former or about to be former love (“erase me from you”).  The pounding bass drum beats like a broken heart fighting to go on, as Yoas and Conley exorcise demons and jam out between verses. 

Desario have managed to subtlety tighten their already solid foundation and release their best collection yet.  I sure hope that there is a full length album on the horizon, because I cannot recommend this enough. 

(https://testpatternrecords.bandcamp.com/album/red-returns)