The Desert Fathers

"I think I've fallen out of a plane."

During a rare moment of silence on The Spirituality, a voice calmly says that simple line. It captures the way you might feel after a first listen to the debut record from The Desert Fathers. You're firmly on the ground, but you can't get over the feeling that you've been torn through the sky, back to earth after a violent but oddly ecstatic trip.

There's never been a record that sounds like The Spirituality. It took over 3 years for Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies) and Greg Norman (Detachment Kit, Zwan) working in 5 different studios, to help The Desert Fathers create this bizarre and beautiful soundscape. Kinetic, complex, aggressive, and blessed with a schizophrenic energy, The Desert Fathers' music is like a menage-a-trois of prog-pop, art metal and psycho hip-hop. Imagine Shellac, the Wu Tang Clan, My Bloody Valentine, Kool Keith and the Pixies mashed together into a thick pulp of layered guitars, intricate vocal melodies, and deep, driving beats.

The Desert Fathers take their name from an ancient monastic order whose members withdrew themselves from society to live alone, seeking God in the desert. The band is fronted by Acquaman (also of The Forms, whose album Icarus was released earlier this year to critical acclaim). Drummer Levitas and bassist The Real make up the taut and powerful rhythm section. Ecco Teres, vocalist from The Forms, makes a number of guest appearances.

The Spirituality has received ecstatic praise from the press (GhettoBlaster says: "This album will renew your faith in music"). The band will touring the US for much of this year and next. Intense and explosive, their shows bring to life the utterly unique vision that drives The Spirituality.