Hot Rise Of An Ice Cream Phoenix
In The Red, 2021
9/10
Listen to Hot Rise Of An Ice Cream Phoenix
It’s been over 3 decades since we’ve heard anything new from the Los Angeles outfit Divine Horsemen, but they’ve made the wait worth it on this diverse comeback album where founding members Chris Desjardins and Julie Christensen are joined by X’s drummer DJ Bonebrake, bassist Bobby Permanent, guitarist Peter Andrus and Doug Lacy on keyboards
“Mystery Writers” gets the listen off to an energetic and gritty start, where slight rootsy ideas enter the crisp rock climate, and “Falling Forward” continues this approach with their punk roots intact amid the melodic and layered guitars that packs in much beauty, too.
Elsewhere, the soaring guitar rock of the thumping “Handful Of Sand”, is an album standout where the lively rhythm section doesn’t disappoint, while “Any Day Now”, a rare cover, gets both thick and calm as their inimitable singing unfolds with an expressive quality. “No Evil Star”, another exceptional track, then makes great use of acoustic guitar, where the pair harmonize alongside the European folk influences.
Close to the end, the scrappy murder ballad “Stony Path” recruits hand clapping and a swift, jangly delivery, and the duo’s version of a love song, “Love Cannot Die”, exits the listen with their retro-folk and gravelly versus pretty execution leaving us wanting more than 13 tracks.
Chris D and Christensen split both professionally and personally in 1988, but remained in contact through the years, and never ruled out a reunion. Though he’s been quite busy with the Flesh Eaters in recent years, a lull in that activity allowed Chris D to entertain Christensen’s interest in resurrecting the band, and let’s hope this isn’t the final installment of Divine Horsemen, cause they sound better than ever.
Travels well with: The Dream Syndicate- These Times; Ellen Foley- Fighting Words