The children of the space power dreamed of flying into space. Not because it was rich and prestigious – the children wanted to see the moon up close, they firmly knew that Solaris was only the first of millions of wonders of the universe. However, the invasion of the body snatchers (we were warned back in 1956!) has turned the governments of the planet into shells called “liberals”, and interstellar travel has been replaced by faceless devices, in the screens of which their owners are crookedly reflected. Real dreamers are stuck in the twentieth century with its youthful rock’n’roll and naive futurism. They are as valuable and rare as diamonds.
They have diamond hands and velvet hearts. Alex & The Diamond Hands are from this unique breed. Their new flying record is quite recognizable: fifteen fresh self-composed songs recorded on magnetic tape in their own analog studio, united by the name “Flyin’ Up”. And if you can swim on a double bass like on a Kon-tiki, then this classic trio from Moscow will take you straight to the stratosphere and beyond. Quoting Yuri Alekseevich: “Let’s go!”
Jukebox Rocket opens with a riff vibrating from space overload. The musical flying machine (Sergey Korolev frowns in disbelief) overcomes gravity, Alex Diamond’s guitar passages (no, not Neil Diamond’s relative, Neil Armstrong’s namesake) are inventive, the voice is slightly restrained. The rhythm section, here and further on, pulsates with the confidence of a gentle puncher, knowing exactly how to play swing, not polka. A sci-fi beginning.
Suzie’s Wiggle is undulating, intense, full of barely restrained animal passion, as befits real rockabilly. Alex growls low into the microphone while the Alex choir leads the vocal harmony. It’s not just Suzy who’s rocking this muse. The hero of Highest Mountain, like many romantics and escapists, strives to climb to the very top to the accompaniment of rock with a touch of country and Western. One can guess the signature melodism of the “Diamond Hands”. Dedicated to the conquerors of Jomolungma and fans of the movie “Vertical”.
Ah Itty Bitty Betty Lou evoked Burnett’s “Bertha Lou” as if it were playing on an abandoned dance floor on a moonlit night, distorted by the shy whispering of the wind with ghosts. Roll On Train rhythmically taps drum wheels on contrabass rails. Musicians know a lot about trains, rockabilly musicians know almost everything. And the Devil created the trains from the crossroads to ferry sinners with guitars from the cotton fields to Chicago and Memphis.
The cowboy longing of Forlorn Town is for a girl from a town abandoned and crumbling somewhere on the prairies. In the prairies of the planet Mars, perhaps… The pressure of Rockin’ Pills is probably caused by taking rock’n’roll pills, which are undoubtedly included in the diet of every cosmonaut. After all, dancing in zero gravity is much more fun and tricky!
Cat Like That is full of vague anxiety and barely perceptible threat that accompany the driver on the highway in the darkest hours, when even the comets – the heavenly hot rods – are not visible. And “the cat”, as you know, is an allegory. All I Can Do is a poignant melody of the open expanses of the wild lands of the West. The guitar sometimes shows sharp teeth, as if testing the strength of a lone horseman.
Strike Back is a moderately hooligan boogie with instructions on gentlemanly behavior in front of other people’s ladies. It’s like, “stop itching or you’ll get a toothache.” Perky and vital. Oh Baby Baby is a mid-tempo rockabilly bop. Up in the sky, in the orbital complex, there’s nothing but talk about girls… A Little Bit Of Your Lovin’ rustles with the sadness of the otherworldly surf. The guitar is incredibly mystical. Hurry up to love…
Moon Harvester‘s expertly executed instrumental doesn’t need words, everything was said in Soviet style.”..And apple trees will bloom on Mars.” Of course, the first lunar combine harvester will be the Polesie, comrades! If Boogie Tonight has the word “boogie” in its title, be sure the music matches. This is a harsh male principle. In our case, hillbilly boogie.
Well, for dessert, an alternative version of Suzie’s Wiggle, devoid of the brutality of the previous one, but still cute. For the tired Suzy. And they have a lot to get tired of, and it’s a pleasant fatigue. The band, led by permanent helmsman Alex “Hep55”, has recorded an excellent album of original and, at the same time, authentic material with the right sound. A noble aftertaste remains from the first listening, but the nuances of precise arrangements and compositional thought will begin to reveal themselves after the second or third use. Therefore, take your time, the night is long, and in space it is completely endless!
The disc is distributed only on physical media (CD). For purchase questions, please contact:
https://vk.com/alex_diamond_hands
http://dhand.ru/
Thanks for the review, colleagues!! We are glad that you liked the album!
Today, I finally listened to this album and was extremely pleased. I probably won’t write my mini-article in the comments this time. I can only say that I really liked the classical sound that accompanied me throughout the record.
The album was waiting in the wings and finally came) And I really liked it too. A minimal set of tools, but how it swings! It’s called craftsmanship, real art. He comes in the first time, the more you listen, the more you like him.