"Look at that moon: we're really in the desert now." — Gary Arce, Desert Sky Studios 2018.
And with those words, the recording session of the second YAWNING SONS album concluded. Recorded live in the deepest part of Joshua Tree, 'Sky Island' reinforces Yawning Sons as a collaborative phenomenon firmly adjoining desert rock heritage with progressive instrumentation.
Before they gathered in Joshua Tree, the YAWNING SONS story started in 2008 when, during the pre-production of their then second album, Sons of Alpha Centauri invited Gary Arce from Yawning Man over to the UK to work with them to develop and record some of the material. From the very first initial session, it was evident that something unique and special had been born. Drenched in reverb and swirling in ambience, the band YAWNING SONS had taken flight. The band, a portmanteau of the two respective collaborative bands, was joined by fellow Yawning Man founder Mario Lalli (Fatso Jetson, Desert Sessions), Scott Reeder (Kyuss, The Obsessed) and Wendy Rae Fowler (Queens of the Stone Age, earthlings?) on vocals. Their debut album 'Ceremony to the Sunset' was released in 2009 to near universal critical acclaim, and within five years was re-released on vinyl, heralded as a "desert classic" and Yawning Sons had progressed to cult status.
For 'Sky Island', the original YAWNING SONS line up that delivered the 'Ceremony to the Sunset' debut returned, once again including exclusive performances from Mario Lalli, Scott Reeder and Wendy Rae Fowler. However, this desert rock heritage line up now includes highly respected desert rock stalwart Dandy Brown (Hermano, Orquesta del Desierto), also joining the band performing on several tracks. Founding member and bass player Nick Hannon commented: "We always loved Orquesta del Desierto, so having Dandy join us means a lot and feels right."
The album's opening track and lead single "Adrenaline Rush" sees the core band driven by Gary Arce's mystical Yawning Man tones and the signature SOAC bass drive of Nick Hannon driving the hard rock vibes from Marlon King with his alluring vocals setting the tone for what will surely be one of the purest desert rock albums of the decade.
'Sky Island' is indeed an album that captures the essence of musical ambience, drenching in reverb with chiming guitars and soaring melodies. The overarching vibes of heat and sun permeate through the record, but also the scenic identity of the record shifts towards the sheer scale of the mountains, the valleys and ultimately, the sky. These are stories that can only be told by the narrators on these tracks, and bind a story and a winding path.
Mastered by John McBain (Desert Sessions, Monster Magnet) and available across multiple deluxe and exclusive formats, this is the most essential desert rock release of the year. The sunset is eclipsing — look to Sky Island!
TRACK LISTING:
1. Adrenaline Rush
2. Low In The Valley
3. Cigarette Footsteps
4. Passport Beyond The Tides
5. Shadows and Echoes
6. Digital Spirit
7. Gravity Underwater
8. Limitless Artifact
YAWNING SONS New album 'Sky Island' out March 26th on Ripple Music