If you know anything about the Yukon Territory in northern Canada, you know that it’s cold.
And you’d be right. It holds the record for the coldest temperature recorded in Canada; an unimaginable –63C (-81F) on February 3,1947. On the winter solstice, the sun doesn’t rise at all in parts of the territory.
So you’d probably be as surprised as I was to hear about the Carcross Desert. A square mile of sand in the middle of the arctic wilderness, sticking out like a rhino at a wedding, the Carcross Desert is a surreal place. The only trees are the occasional pines poking out of the sand.
Quick warning before you try to impress your know-it-all uncle with your Carcross Desert knowledge: technically, it’s not a desert, as the climate is too humid. The sand was left there by receding glaciers, and the arctic wind has blown them into dunes.
But whatever your know-it-all uncle says, I think it’s an incredibly cool place, and one that I very much look forward to seeing in person this week.
What makes this a beautiful song:
1. Yukon Blonde’s excellent debut album stands out in my mind mostly for its just-slightly-unusual chord progressions, like in “Blood Cops” and “Brides Song”. But this track hooks the listener with the chant-like vocals that open it.
2. The guitar, especially at 2.17, seems to echo off into a distant valley below.
3. Although it starts with a chant, it ends with a drum-driven indie rock explosion. Perfect for road trips.
Recommended listening activity:
Being somewhere you’ve never been before.