The Floral Clocks is the name of the musical collaboration between filmmaker/musician Gabriel White and poet Richard von Sturmer (lyricist of Blam Blam Blam’s There is no Depression in New Zealand). ‘Desert Fire’ is their first recording (another is planned for late 2015), and is intriguing – rich in cinematic imagery, with a sense of stillness coming through the quiet, acoustic-based guitar music. Von Sturmer’s lyrics are based on postcards of the American west, and the disquieting Wooden Highway brings to mind the sparse landscapes of the Old West. Historical figures Abraham Lincoln and Buster Keaton appear as figures moving through the songs, without being the central figures, though Geronimo tells a small story about the Native American leader. ‘Desert Fire’ is a quiet, affecting album, where White’s music doesn’t break much of a sweat, though A Flock of Seagulls rhythmically takes flight, and Florida Angels has an upbeat, almost celebratory groove. White’s voice reflects the emotion and pathos in the lyrics, veering between higher and lower registers to communicate von Sturmer’s meanings and stories. This is one of those rare albums that is an art form, from sound, to words, to packaging, and needs to be experienced as one.