Review: ‘The Desert Trilogy EP’ – Dean Owens

Dean Owens has been whetting fans appetites with a series of EP releases as a prelude to his album ‘Sinner’s Shrine’ which is due out in 2022. The Desert Trilogy EP began with The Burning Heart which was released in March of this year. The theme running throughout the trilogy follows Owens love of the American Southwest and the first track we hear, New Mexico, introduces us to those themes with a high end production accompanying the Scottish singers vocals. The addition of a trumpet in the instrumental section adds a different flavour to this track. This energy is paralleled on the second instalment ‘Sand and Blood’ on tracks such as Land of the Hummingbird which has a Spanish flavour, added by the voice of Gaby Moreno, who sings in Spanish, whilst we hear a more delicate side to Owens on the stripped back Tombstone Rose. The third EP of the set, ‘Ghosts’, which comes out in September, boasts the stand out tracks, The Hopeless Ghosts and Even When I’m Gone. The Hopeless Ghosts sees the return of the trumpet in the arrangement and features Grant Lee Phillips. There is an intensity to the track which is very well produced. Meanwhile, Even When I’m Gone is stripped back and sombre, the haunting whistling is captivating. This comprehensive collection is well thought out and certainly pricks the ears up in anticipation for ‘Sinner’s Shrine’.