New Releases – Page 79 – Modern Mystery

Mt. Desolation is the side-project of Tim Rice-Oxley and Jesse Quinn of Keane, the British band that flooded the airwaves with the single, “Somewhere Only We Know” back in 2004. But don’t expect to hear the same alt-rock tunes from them. Mt. Desolation specializes in country music with indie folk accents and their self-titled debut album will be released on October 19th, 2010 on Cherry Tree Records.

To help accomplish the perfect sound for this genre, which is far removed from British culture, to say the least, Oxley and Quinn called on their friends Ronnie Vannucci from the Killers, Country Winston from Mumford and Sons and producer Emery Dobyns, known for his work with Patti Smith and Antony & The Johnsons.

Get a first taste of what these collaborations sound like below, with the song “Departure:”

The association between Mt. Desolation and Mumford and Sons doesn’t end here as the two bands will be heading on tour together starting on October 18th, 2010 in Los Angeles. During those shows, they will also be joined by fellow Brits King Charles.

Here are their tour dates:
10/18 – Los Angeles @ Palladium (with Mumford & Sons and King Charles)
10/20 – San Francisco @ Warfield (with Mumford & Sons and King Charles)
10/22 – Portland @ Crystal Ballroom (with Mumford & Sons and King Charles)
10/23 – Vancouver @ Vogue Theatre (with Mumford & Sons and King Charles)
10/24 – Seattle @ Moore Theatre (with Mumford & Sons and King Charles)
10/27- NYC @ Mercury Lounge
10/28 – Toronto @ The Drake
10/29 – Detroit @ Pike Room
10/30 – Chicago @ Schubas

If there are two things music should probably always be, it’s eclectic and experimental, or more commonly known as: Bill Laswell. The legendary producer and musician has been responsible for more magic than you likely know, unless you are lucky enough to be in the know in which case you can skip past this next sentence. Tabla Beat Science, Gigi, Sting, Herbie Hancock, John Zorn, Jah Wobble, Bootsy Collins, Sly & Robbie, Ginger Baker, Bob Marley and freaking Miles Davis have all worked with Laswell or been lucky enough to have him do dirty, sexy, H O T things to their songs even the most adventurous couples never attempt in the bedroom.

Laswell, alongside fellow weirdos Buckethead and Brains equals Praxis, the hard rock mania a la Zappa gone wild style. Their new album, Profanation: Preparation for a Coming Darkness features a who’s who in freakland including Wu Tang’s Killah Priest, System of A Down’s Serj Tankian, master of madness front man of Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk and Peeping Tom, Mike Patton, and the Duracell battery of punk rock himself: Iggy Pop.

Due for release stateside on January 25th 2011, consider Profanation: Preparation for a Coming Darkness the apocalyptic sign we’ve all been fearing, but strangely enough, it’s actually going to be a really delicious and amusing Armageddon.