Photo Credit: Andreas Neumann
Ending a 16-year hiatus since its last instalment, the most mythical, longest-running rock n roll mixtape odyssey in existence, Desert Sessions will return this October with the most ambitious entries yet in its expansive and elusive catalogue: Vols. 11 & 12 (a/k/a respectively as Arrivederci Despair and Tightwads & Nitwits & Critics & Heels) is out now on Matador Records.
Praise for Desert Sessions Vol. 11 & 12
“One of the project’s most impressive line up of players”
—The New York Times
“The latest volume in the (and first in 16 years) sees Homme bringing together another impressive hodgepodge of artists”
—Entertainment Weekly
“Breaking the 16-year drought between sittings, Desert Sessions Vol 11 & 12 once again captures a fission that can only occur when musical heroes collide.” – STACK
“There’s enough rock star swagger here to live vicariously through, and the sense that the Joshua Tree party will ride again for years to come. So crack open that fancy bottle and let your hair down.” – NME
Vols. 11 & 12 were recorded mostly in a six-day span in December 2018 at Rancho De La Luna studios in Joshua Tree, CA, with Queens of the Stone Age founder and Desert Sessions ringleader/producer Joshua Homme enlisting a cast of players including:
Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint)
Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters)
Mike Kerr (Royal Blood)
Carla Azar (Autolux, Jack White)
Les Claypool (Primus)
Matt Sweeney
Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows, Toast of London)
Libby Grace
Töôrnst Hülpft
The results are eight new songs that embody the legacy of freedom from expectations and inhibitions that stretches back to 1997 when Homme led the first retreat to the Joshua Tree desert. What began as a casual writing and recording session amongst friends—isolated from daily distractions and comforts—has since become a possibly infinite body of work. Now spanning 12 volumes over the course of two decades (and a total of two documented live performances), The Desert Sessions has featured some of music’s most cherished icons—past p.layers have included Polly Harvey, Mark Lanegan, Josh Freese, Dean Ween, among many others—deliberately removing themselves from their comfort zones and working together to create some of their most relaxed yet challenging work.
The tracklist for Desert Sessions Vols. 11 & 12 (a/k/a Arrivederci Despair and Tightwads & Nitwits & Critics & Heels) is:
‘Move Together’ (lead vocal: Billy F. Gibbons)
‘Noses in Roses Forever’ (lead vocal: Joshua Homme)
‘Far East for the Trees’
‘If You Run’ (lead vocal: Libby Grace)
‘Crucifire’ (lead vocal: Mike Kerr)
‘Chic Tweetz’ (vocals: Töôrnst Hülpft, Matt Berry)
‘Something You Can’t See’ (lead vocal: Jake Shears)
‘Easier Said Than Done’ (lead vocal: Joshua Homme)
