Sacramento’s Desario has released their fourth album! This is a great surprise, because it’s their first new material since 2016. When they released two fantastic EPs that year, for some reason, I thought more new material was right around the corner. Instead, over a year later they compiled the two EPs to create their third album, III. And now five years later, they are back with more!
Since Desario’s first album back in 2009, they’ve been slowly evolving. The four-piece create a smooth, but intricate post punk sound. The evolution has come with songwriting. They have become more direct over the years, and a little edgier, without losing their hypnotic sound.
First of all, Signal and Noise, is immaculately recorded by guitarist/keyboardist, Michael Yoas. The sound is tight and beautiful. There seems to be an added layer of atmosphere from keyboards and a tightly wound buzz that moves through these songs. I also noticed that even though the songs in general have become more spacious, making room for John Conley’s vocals over the years, his voice feels like it’s mixed a little lower here. Whatever, the case, the entirety of side one is super catchy and a pleasure to hear, highlighted by the bass intro of “Throw it Back.” This song displays the twin guitar strengths of Conley and Yoas perfectly all in a haunting three-minute pop song, as does the Holiday Flyer reminiscent “Nevergreen.”
Side two opens with my favorite song on the album, the mesmerizing “Things We Left Behind.” This song is so powerful in so many ways. It reminds a bit of their ‘sister’ band Soft Science with its keyboard background along with that grinding buzz. It is truly a transporting song. It manages the trick of being super dreamy and massive sounding. The final songs feature Mike Carr’s wonderful basslines (especially the closer, “Eraser”) within wistful sounding nuggets.
These guys will likely never be a big ‘buzz’ band, but whenever and whatever they do, I am here for it!
