Desolation by Dave Smallen (Oakland, California)
Nothing rubs me right like receiving physical submissions in the mail. It single handedly says, in the most realistic vocabulary “Dingus matters.” Welcome to the new weekly column written by yours truly, Dingus. In the past weeks we’ve evolved. With the acquisition of new writers and other essential staff members our skeleton has needed some modification. Later this afternoon you can expect some site overhauls along with some new staff introductions- the most visibile of which will be the weekly column, reoccurring articles cast in thematic light by a crew of new faces that you’ll surely enjoy. Now, I’ll make you one promise: no matter how large our writting staff grows (we’re always looking for new perspectives) and no matter how entrenched I get with management, I, Dingus, will always write.
This is the first installment of my personal weekly column, Let’s Get Physical- a column in which I pay special attention to an artist who has taken the time and effort to mail our offices something personal. First up, Desolation by Dave Smallen.
Beginning with a slipped grip, a shout that casts imagery of lost footing high in the treetop, ‘The Tower’ introduces an album in emotional free-fall. As the branches scrape past your face, as your body hits the larger limbs being redirected like a pinball Smallen gives you a small taste of his dynamic pose, a karate like stance ready for the fight. Hitting the ground, the second, third and fourth track serve as a constitutional repose, it serves as the repelling moment after a passion filled sprint that guides reflection. But Desolation is only holding back temporarily. ’yes, I know we’re blessed…’ contaminates the innocence, humanizes the unrealistic beauty that comes rolling out of the embryonic soup that first introduced the album. It’s the poetry, the balance of crazy that lights up the instrumental fortitude and makes Desolation an album comparable to Bright Eyes.
When I first received the package, It was unclear how I was even supposed to find the bandcamp page. I got a single cd, clearly hand package in some of the msot thoughtful, time sensitive album art that our blog has received. I’ll instagram a picture of it later (I left it at home- womp womp). Point is, it made a lasting impression. There’s nothing like physical music people, that’s why we’ll soon be launching a kickstarter over at The Snake Records to begin imprinting vinyl releases. Think about it- humanity ends, aliens show up. Do we really want them finding all the music industry’s cds? Print, print, print! [Buy Physical] @Dingusonmusic
