Desert Life are a Tenby, Wales-based duo who have just caught my attention thanks to their new album. An introduction to a sound that echoes Ryan Adams, Jeff Tweedy, Bon Iver and R.E.M., it’s called Let It All Pass.

By Graeme Smith

The album opens with Future Dead. It’s a gentle yet emotionally rich start. Acoustic folk instrumentals set the early pace before pensively passionate vocals come in. The lyrics weave a compelling story in the verse before we reach a soaring and singalong chorus. It’s a beautiful introduction to the world of Desert Life.

I Don’t Wanna Know ups the tempo and introduces some atmospheric country rock elements. It tells a melancholic story of heartbreak before Tangled Light injects some cosmic philosophy. Sphere is a deliberate, slow-building wonder. Its vulnerable and authentic feel, and descriptive lyrics, make it a highlight.

Hiraeth is a slow and brooding instrumental moment. Garden Of The Fallen sits at the heart of the album and gives us some timeless folk rock with captivating vocals. Caught On The Wind brightens things up with some bittersweet storytelling. It’s another highlight.

No Colours paints a vivid picture with its poetic lyrics and licks of horn before Never Be The Same introduces some stormy ambience. Title track Let It All Pass takes us on a soul-searching and ultimately freeing journey. That Book closes the album with a delicate acoustic farewell. With image-laden lyrics, captivating vocals and a healthy dose of melancholy, it nicely sums up the Desert Life sound, and acts as the perfect final chapter for the album.

Desert Life are singer songwriter Chris Swales and multi-instrumentalist Tom Jordan. Let It All Pass was produced by Nick Swannell at Studio 49. It features drums by Jason Downes and Huw Rees, double bass by Richie Evans, accordion by George Whitfield, cello by Daisy Whitfield, and pedal-steel guitar by Jon Graboff. You can check out the album below.

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