Elvis Perkins In Dearland: 'The Doomsday EP'

Elvis Perkins' debut was an exquisite collection of delicate and spare meditations on loss and grief that inspired comparisons to the likes of Leonard Cohen and Rufus Wainwright.

In order to perform the album live, Perkins formed a band - the Dearland of the title - and it was this group of musicians who helped give birth to the acclaimed second album, from which 'Doomsday' is taken. This collaboration has seen Perkins expand his musical palate, eschewing the introspection of 'Ash Wednesday' in favour of a more celebratory, gospel-inflected rock sound. It is a change of direction that Perkins has pulled off with an intoxicating swagger.

'Doomsday' itself commences with a sad New Orleans jazz trombone figure before breaking out into a jaunty, rambunctious, jubilant hoedown romp with a lyric that rejoices in the human spirit’s ability to revel in a kind of optimistic fatalism. ' Gypsy Dave', a stark and disconcerting rendition of a traditional ballad is followed by 'Stay Zombie Stay', a mournful gospel track that bears more than a passing resemblance to Blur’s 'Tender'.

'Stop Drop Rock And Roll' is an all-consuming rousing rockabilly stomp of the kind that Bob Dylan has specialised in over recent years, whilst 'Weeping Mary' has an old time, New Testament, revivalist meeting feel about it that makes it sound like a modern take on a Carter Family song.

This EP, along with the excellent second album, feels oddly like a resurrection for a career that wasn’t dead in the first place.



Released on 21st September 2009 by XL Recordings.

Written by Sam Monk.