Premiere: High Desert Fires, ‘Azrael’
Kevin Bronson on
21
Informed by the classic, cosmic California sounds of the 1960s and ’70s, High Desert Fires have one of those Only-in-L.A. stories bred in the rustic terrain of Topanga Canyon. The pedigreed sextet is the brainchild of guitarist Chris Traynor, known for his work with the Les Paul in bands such as Helmet, Orange 9mm, Rival Schools and Bush. The forthcoming High Desert Fires debut “Light Is The Revelation,” is another beast, though, a kind of sonic spirit quest. It started after Traynor’s metaphorical crate-digging inspired some songs of his own, which he then shared with his wife, bassist Sibyl Buck, who among other exploits has played with Joseph Arthur’s Lonely Astronauts. Soon the couple’s Topanga housemates were involved, including versatile guitarist Jen Turner (Natalie Merchant, Here We Go Magic, et al), singer Gabriella Da Silva, keyboardist Drew Broadrick and drummer Taylor McLam.
No lo-fi affair, the album (out next week) includes a choir and strings, and Joyner recorded it to analog tape. The back story, if not the music, recalls another L.A. collective, the Alex Ebert-led Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, but the album’s lead track “Azrael” suggests that like his forebears Traynor has found a karmic link between the canyon and desert. “I wanted ‘Azrael’ to establish the desert theme of ‘Light Is The Revelation’ like the musical equivalent of a cinematic long shot, such as the opening scenes of Sergio Leone’s classic, ‘Once Upon a Time in the West,’” he explains. “Similarly, ‘Azrael’ sets the tone for a story of the spiritual Wild West, as it opens the record on a billowing cloud of sonic dust.”
||| Stream: “Azrael”
So pumped for this album.
The music created from these talented musicians is like nothing I’ve ever heard before.
I’m SO excited about this record coming out. I’ve been listening to teasers for months now on the High Desert Fires facebook page and I seriously love, love, love everything I’ve heard so far. It’s like being wrapped in a blanket of amazingness!!! This track is awesome!
I love this band, this song and the music. It is truly soul soothing and beautiful.
To me, Azrael is the perfect song to lay down and meditate to – to find stillness and to be calm. It’s so relaxing and so smooth – it sounds like velvet. I absolutely love it!
I am so stoked for this album. I love the complexity of the 6o’s/70’s sound mixed with the current folk sound. It’s like nothing I have heard before. I am truly impressed by High Desert Fires and hope everyone gets a chance to check them out.
This is so great! I absolutely can’t wait to hear the rest – so soothing and calming. This is definitely one band we’ll be hearing a lot more from!!
This sound is so good! It sounds like what I grew up listening to, but better.
Ohmygawwwwwwd! So real, so soothing, so divine. Beautiful!!!!
This song is so eerily soothing. It pulls you in and makes you feel every word, every note. For me, this album is very much anticipated. High Desert Fires has introduced me to a new world of music. Awakened me. Waking up the great white light inside me. 😉 For sure worth a listen. I promise you’ll come back for more. Well done!
CRAZY awesome.. love it.. feelin’ & diggin’ all the vibes…
Wow!
This is good, smooth and very unique music.
Beautiful
I love this band and i love this song! perfect vibe for a chill day, a drive in the mountains.. it just makes your heart happy. i can’t wait to listen to this whole record start to finish! oooh the sweet sounds of High Desert Fires. <3 <3
They are so awesome! Love it.
Absolutely love this cut. Cannot wait to hear the entire album.
Lovely article and song. Excited to hear more from the a band, and want to see them live soon!
Super excited to listen to the whole album. I love the songs released so far! Azeael especially. It takes me to another dimension… So so beautiful!!!
A slice of perfection- it’s been a long time since music has taken me on a journey. It’s like the music I’ve been waiting for… I just didn’t know it. Thank you HDF
Great track! Looking forward to seeing this band live.
Beautiful and compelling music!
LOVE! I can’t wait until this is out!!!