Mojave 3
In Love With A View(4AD)
Somewhere, a campfire burns low. A coyote howls just out of frame, and a lone figure relaxes their grip on an acoustic guitar before slipping into lonely, burdened sleep. In the hushed, Dylan-reverent world of Mojave 3, the blood-red sun is forever sinking in the western sky and the one you love is far, far away. Possibly because you're driving cattle into the next county, or maybe you just can't get to a phone. Whatever.
If you're in Mojave 3, the stars at night are big and bright even in Hackney, and there's always something sad to sing about that will sound even sadder accompanied by a steel-pedal guitar. Or, indeed, a banjo.
Why are Mojave 3 so sad? Perhaps because no matter how beguiling their sleepy, ten-gallon muse, or how beautifully their songs whisper and weep with the chill of 100 desert nights, no-one pays much attention to them.
They have two ex-shoegazers in their ranks (Slowdive's Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell) which might explain the cautious reception. But hey, wanna
hear something controversial? Slowdive were great. Mojave 3 are even better.
April Long
To read all our reviews first - days before they appear online - check out NME magazine, on sale every Wednesday
For the latest music videos and backstage interviews, check out our sister site, NME Video.
-
-
Wu Lyf to play secret rooftop gig tomorrow (June 3) - ticket details
-
Black Sabbath's Ozzy Osbourne: 'We've written 15 new songs' - video
-
Guns N' Roses threaten to storm off O2 Arena stage after being pelted with money and pint glasses
-
Kevin Shields: 'The new My Bloody Valentine album was influenced by The Beach Boys'
Comments do not always reflect the views of NME, or IPC Media, for guidelines visit our Ts & Cs page