Emory - Blood + Dust

Emory

Blood + Dust
self-released; 2015

3.6 out of 5

By J Simpson

The world is hot and dusty right now. It's the perfect time to explore Blood + Dust, the debut EP from the Tucson, AZ's Emory. 

Blood + Dust is a document of Emory's itinerant wandering around the world, from the lonely desolation of Silver City, NM to the Devil's Punchbowl in Menomie, WI. As you might expect from these desolate wildernesses, there is a streak of cosmic Americana that runs throughout this wonderful but too short EP bringing to mind the desertscapes of Neil Young and Crazy Horse and new wave troubadours like Wilco. 

There's a certain post-punk psychedelia at work here, which prevents Blood & Dust from becoming too rural, giving a sense of distance and observation, like watching landscapes spin by on the other side of a car window. 

The album starts with "Hot Springs" which revolves around clean guitars, bass and drums. It's a spacious canvas as the vocalist laments about clearing his head and singing from a first person perspective. "Desolate" has a bit more energy and thrives off release and tension. The song benefits from a earthy sounding organ and Bruce Springsteen-esque yells. 

"House of Fire" is a mix of Spaghetti Western and romance. The end of the song could be in a Quentin Tarantino movie. They close with "North" which contains a sing-a-long type quality. The handclaps only added to the festive  activities out in the desert.

Blood + Dust is an indication of which way Emory will turn next. If this be the case, the world is in store for good things! Get in on the ground floor. Wander off into the wilderness and get lost in mesquite mescaline deserts. If you like classics like those mentioned above, as well as post-folk downer psychedelia like The Handsome Family or Richmond Fontaine, make sure to pick this up and go for a drive! 

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