Desert Ships are setting sail with their new single ‘Neon’

Desert Ships have been making waves since the release of their debut album ‘Doll Skin Flag’ in 2012. 

The three-piece crew manages to create an incredibly unique sound complete with an almost hypnotic groove and simplistic structure. Their second album, ‘Eastern Flow’, was released in 2019.

 It was mixed by Mark Gardener, guitarist, and vocalist for the shoegazing band Ride, and was recorded by Haydn Bendall. Coincidentally, Bendall worked on my favourite album of all time, Kate Bush’s ‘Hounds of Love’.

But enough about that—what about their new single?

‘Neon’ is a great addition to their expanding roster and doesn’t deviate from their original sound. It’s got a real simplistic structure that comes together to deliver a more than exquisite listening experience. The track opens with a guitar riff before allowing the bass to directly commandeer the single's journey.

The bass, though very simple, gives the track its groovy nature, and it wasn’t long before I found myself bobbing my head and snapping my fingers. 

The bass definitely operates as the orchestrator for the track. There's nothing better than a good bass line; it always makes a track stand out and ‘Neon’ is no different. The haunting vocals are sublime with gorgeous harmonies that complement the song incredibly well. They remind me a lot of Brad Sucks with a hint of The Dandy Warhols.

Desert Ships are a fantastic band that delivers groovy, hypnotic tunes. Like their namesake, each crew member of the 3-piece performs extravagantly well. Overall, it’s an incredibly well-produced track. Each member of the three-piece does their part to provide a single, coherent track, allowing them to take us on the journey of their single ‘Neon’, a journey that we’ll be taking time and time again.

 

Liam Russell