Desolate Son by Palodine

Desolate Son

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An ode to this American way of life can be heard in all its mordant power on Seattle band Palodine's traumatically tender and awesomely affecting Desolate Son. Similar to the new American rock of certain neo-psychedelic bands, this debut is formed in the rustic ferocity of Sixteen Horsepower's religious-schizophrenic wake. But the stark lilting or loping late afternoon desert soundtrack is balanced by Katrina Whitney's singing from the bowels of spiritual poverty and mutilated bloodlines. Desolate Son is a relentless dark rain of apocalypse beneath stumbling cries of mercy. "Devils Song" and "Devour Me" are one-two punches of gospel folk-metal, confirming the album's sequence of valley, peak, valley, inverted. Chris Estey, Three Imaginary Girls ............................................................................................... Katrina Whitney sings like she's trying to hold back the bad news Palodine's music evokes mystery, especially that found squirreled away in the lonely, dark places of America. The songs twist on a country/folk axis, but fresh tendrils in blacker, meaner shades wave in the breeze. Katrina Whitney sings like she's trying to hold back the bad news; Michael Aryn and Jason Brooks use their instruments to support her worldview. As you might expect from songs titled Vengeance and Devour Me, there arent a lot of smiles here, but theres no bombast either. The dour mood holds, but its not without its moments of sunlight peeking through the clouds. If you think Tarnation is too cheerful or the Walkabouts too rocking, Palodine will be right up your alley. Michael Toland, High Bias .......................................................................................... Palodine's brooding, insidious sound is certainly not recommended for partying "A relentless dark rain of apocalypse beneath stumbling cries of mercy" is how one critic described this Seattle based band, and really, this sums them up perfectly. Without a major chord in sight, Palodine's brooding, insidious sound is certainly not recommended for partying. Obvious influences are PJ Harvey / Siouxsie and the Banshees, but there is a lot more to them than that. A clear debt is also owed to 60s American West Coast acts such as Jefferson Airplane and Quicksilver Messenger Service, with the songs, all written by singer Katrina Whitney and guitarist Michael Aryn, constituting an intense, hypnotic trip of almost nightmare proportions. It is very easy to do this kind of stuff badly, and it is a style prone to extremes of pretentiousness, but there is a compelling directness and thoughtfulness in the arrangements here, which ensures that the whole thing is carried off effectively and avoids any of the looming pitfalls. "Sugar Water Orphan" with its lumbering, loping build up to the frenzied, menacing , but controlled climax, is the pick of the 10 tracks. John Hinshelwood, Americana UK… Expand

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