Cactus Lee captures the essence of Texas music, blending Austin’s vibrant nightclub atmosphere with the raw energy of a dusty dancefloor.
Kevin Dehan, who performs under the moniker Cactus Lee, is the type of artist that has nicely settled in as a piece to a puzzle which intertwines genres and their bordering neighbors.. connecting the soulful fireside picker to the west coast breeze of Laurel Canyon from days gone by, while adding a contemporary take on all of the above. Add a dash of Grateful Dead’s country-infused chill mode, and you have a sound that straddles multiple settings. Just as these distinct vibes sit across from each other, so do his live performances. I’ve seen Cactus Lee perform solo, crooning and picking his way through captivating tales as the crowd watches in awe, as well as with a full six-piece band, unleashing a psychedelic onslaught of face-melting country fuzz. Both are extraordinary in their own right, each with the power to send chills down your spine. And now, his latest album, Cactus Lee, continues with that same lore.
This self-titled album offers some of the most infectiously slow-and-steady countrified downtempo magic Cactus Lee has yet to deliver. The subtle intricacies of the album were masterfully recorded and blended at Vine Studio in Austin, TX – with a mixed bag of instruments from accordion, to the bongos, saxophone, and more – each adding its unique strand to the sonic tapestry.
Cactus Lee, his seventh album, begs to be heard through headphones or cranked up loud behind the wheel – preferably alone, listening with intent, with the right amount of wind in your hair, as you drum along to the rhythms of the high desert plains while the sun sets behind you.
– @meanwhile_in_music
