‘Epic’ is an overused word in the description of music and popular culture, but especially in the weird, wonderful world of the internet (where ‘epic’ fails constitute anything from stumbling over a slightly uprooted slab in the pavement to parkour testicle mishaps). However, New Desert Blues are an outfit who make better sense of the word with their debut EP Devil’s Rope and the wantonly cinematic sounds found within.

The Hampshire quintet spent much of last October cooped up in West London’s RAK Studios concocting a piece of work which offers brooding wails from frontman Jamie Cullen, celestial harmonies and surging compositions that all amount to a sound of grandiose proportions.

Starting off with a bang, “Zachary” is full of extravagant guitar work, crescendos and a stunning chorus in which cries of “And I’ll lay down in the shadow of the mountain, blackened by time and rain/And I’ll raise my palms to the fire, for my hands can work again” ensue from Cullen. “Matthew” continues with a staunchly more sombre tone yet an equally grand chorus and finale, all ethereal harmonies, fluttering guitar sections and an elusive sound that begins in the pit of your stomach and rises to form a lump in your throat. “Christoph” and “Eli” follow down the same path as their predecessors, one of dizzying refrains and lofty ambitions.

This whole ‘EP as screenplay’ thing New Desert Blues have down is a pretty solid, emotive formula that should see them make an impact this year. Yet to perfect their style, they might need to pull a wider variety of tricks from their hat.