ALBUM PREMIERE: Rose Haze Let Improvised Desert Rock Wax and Wane on ‘Contemplations in the Desert’

Rose Haze is the ethereal experimental music project of Kate Ramsey. Ever-evolving over the years, the group has encompassed a vast array of sonic soundscapes and undergone several supporting lineups. Elements of ambient drone, dreampop, shoegaze, psychedelic rock, post-rock, and soulful jazzy expressions all make an appearance in Rose Haze compositions and performance. Based in Oakland, CA, Kate is supported by Ruben Gonzales (guitar and bass), Yoko Miyakawa (viola, electric violin, and bass), and Dustin Coker (drums).

Contemplations in the Desert is an instrumental album born amidst the sweltering sun, dust, and nothingness of Southern California. Kate Ramsey and Ruben Gonzales of Rose Haze set out for nowhere to record a fully improvised collection of tunes using all analog gear.

Unsurprisingly, the desert was a pretty brutal environment for doing much of anything, much less recording an album, but that’s precisely what intrigued the duo. The idea sprung from their desire to satiate a pandemic ennui and escape for a bit. While battling heat and fatigue, and running from rattlesnakes and swarms of bees, they found sanctuary. Freely writing and recording music out in the wild frontier was an unforgettable experience punctuated by an absolute tranquility.

Today Glide is excited to premiere Contemplations in the Desert in its entirety ahead of its official release on December 2nd. Musically, the album brings to mind an Ennio Morricone (there is even a track named after the famous composer) score that is both otherworldly in a spaced out way and also weirdly Californian. There are longer compositions that drift into sparse sonic soundscapes and urge the listener to dissociate while others are meandering and dark. There are elements of psych rock, prog and desert groove all coming together with a uniquely experimental edge. Tying it all together and making it truly impressive is the fact that this album is fully improvised.

Kate Ramsey describes the inspiration behind the album:

The fully improvised album is meant to be listened to from start to finish. It wanes and waxes in and out of serious tones and delirium-induced humor to capture our feelings over the course of two very long days in the desert. Recording freely like this with analog instruments in the dust under the open sky provided a sense of freedom during quarantine. Ruben and I really needed to breathe, truly breathe unmasked, safely, and meditate in music. This album is the result of achieving that mission for a weekend.

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