Desert Farmers

Just been listening to this CD "Desert Farmers" that we have in the a-file. It's very interesting, track 2 is very "Smog"-like, and the last track was reminding me of late Swans with it's bombast and self-loathing ("I hate the power of my own eyes, I hate the power of words, I hate the power, I'll lose everything i own... I'll be misguided, delusional, shameful and hubristic" etc Gira or what?)

It didn't grab me when I was doing the "gotta find a song shuffle" but this CD is worth playing.

Hannah Marcus has a very low, breathy voice. It works well with her music, which is largely very creepy and dark. She seems to be striving for depth and insight in her lyrics– at least by the presentation in her songs– but falls short. Still, some of the songs are interesting (#8) and pretty (#4). Strong guitar instrumentals, along with piano, contrabass, drums, and a variety of others.

1) Interlude– dark, short, kind of creepy; sounds like guitars being strummed rapidly 2) Laos– slow, sad song; female lead vocalists with some backup; strong guitar in the background, with some really cool instrumentation (the harmonium? vibraphone?) 3) Canon– pretty cool song sung in a round, with tight harmonies that sound a little creepy; lyrics are pretty silly; female and male vocalists (I think) 4) Strip Darts– pretty, sad, but upbeat song; female vocalists; pretty minimalist as far as instruments go, with guitar and violin, have a greater part in the second half of the song 5) Hairdresser in Taos– slow, depressing song; description of a mental breakdown, it seems like; picks up about two minutes in; good contrabass; female vocalist 6) Beloved– slow, boring song; some of the instrumentals (violin and electric guitar) are pretty; female vocalist 7) Desert Farmers– all instruments; sad, dark, pretty; surprising sounds to make with a single violin 8) Purple Mother– honest, interesting lyrics; kind of a bluesy sound; strong rhythm; very different from the other music on the CD 9) Fake and Pretty– slow, long, boring song; there are some instrumental solos in the middle, but nothing to rave about