Those paying very close attention to the rock underground over the past couple of years may well have encountered Desert Kites. The Dundee based band have released a string of singles and an EP that gained some positive online press.
The band are back with the surprisingly sparky ‘Simple Cure’, which takes their riff-based approach in a slightly different direction from the EP’s post grunge sounds..
Instead of wheeling out more grunge-centric and retro alternative riffs, the current single takes slightly more of a rock-pop turn, really highlighting some pleasingly bright lead guitar sounds en route. The tonal shift is clear right from the off, when a mid tempo rhythm pushes a chopping sound into the spotlight, over which, some very melodic harmony vocals take the reins. Even when allowing the main riff to blossom into something fuller sounding and much rockier – in places, sharing a hint of influence from fellow Scots Silver Dollar Room – there’s much more of a melodic streak at the heart of this recording, and by the time the chorus rolls around for a second time, that melody really begins to take hold.
Better still, a high toned lead guitar break accentuates the more commercial feel to this track with a breezy melody that compliments the main riff brilliantly, and a similarly positive influence drives a coda where Desert Kites resort to recycling a very 70s influenced twin lead sound with love. If that’s not enough, it’s worth keeping a close ear for the middle eight: this instrumental section leading into the guitar solo makes great use of some lead bass which even hints at an unexpected prog influence. Taking on board a very user-friendly vocal, this is one of the band’s best singles to date.
There are some major changes here, but ‘Simple Cure’ retains a homespun feel and a sense of heart that’s resolutely Desert Kites, making it a track that fans will love, and its more melodic approach — very much the key to this track’s all round enjoyability — seems set to expand their cult following.
Take a listen below.