Listening to Desolation Wilderness is like hearing bubblegum pop blasting from an underwater phonograph — layers of guitar and keyboard swimming in a sea of reverb, sounding at once familiar and completely foreign, like finding a radio station lost in the static of night — if I may strain another simile.  To put it simply, Desolation Wilderness has fashioned a sound quite unique to our little corner of the world. While it lacks the dirty rock sound of most of our bands, Desolation Wilderness doesn’t dip into the quiet folk that seems to consume the rest of our talent either.



Perhaps this explains how suddenly the band has taken off. What started as a solo electronica project by Nicolas Zwart in 2005 became a full band in early 2008. From there, a deal with K Records, two LPs and, and now the band embarks on their first countrywide tour as a non-supporting act. It’s a rather mind-boggling progression, and something Zwart still seems somewhat baffled by.



“It’s hard for me to gauge, really,” says Zwart. “I mean, I’ve just graduated from Evergreen.”



It’s always exciting to see one of Washington’s own blow up, or at least begin the process of blowing up. Desolation Wilderness is set to start a massive tour, and with officially released albums on K Records and reviews from the likes of Pitchfork and All Music, it’s beginning to feel like this may be a band that’s really going to make it.



“I’ve already written the whole next album,” Zwart says. “It just feels like what I want to do.”



Sending one of our bands out into the world brings pangs of hope and apprehension, sort of like the first day of school. But in the case of Desolation Wilderness, it’s now time to loosen the reins and hope the people see what we’ve come to love.



[The Den at urbanXchange, with Lapuda, Humble Cub, Alexander & the Optimistics, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m., $5, 1932 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2280]Pacific Ave, Tacoma, 253.572.2280]