Album ReviewHenry Lipput is back to give us his take on the latest album from Australian quartet, Dick Diver.
Thanks as always, Henry.
SWALLOWING THEIR INFLUENCES
By Henry Lipput
Australia’s Dick Diver have -- to my ears -- been influenced by two of my favorite bands, one also from Australia (the Go-Betweens -- no longer around and greatly missed) and another from Canada (Stars). With their new album, Melbourne, Florida, Dick Diver have taken these influences and created a sound all their own.
This four-piece from Down Under is made up of Rupert Edwards on guitar, Alistair McKay also on guitar, Steph Hughes on drums, and Al Montford on bass.
There’s no break between the opener, the rocking “Waste The Alphabet” (with a swell Byrdsy Rickenbacker solo -- there‘s a lot of good guitar work going on in this album) and the next song “Year In Pictures” (horns really add a lot to the band’s overall sound). It’s a good start to the album.
The horn-heavy “Leftovers” features drummer Hughes in a solo turn as does the ballad-y “View From A Shakey Ladder.” The near-Cockney vocal on “Beat Me Up (Talk To A Counsellor)” sounds as if it could have been on Blur’s Parklife album. And if you listen to “Percentage Points” on its own you might think it’s a cut from a George Harrison solo album.
The band‘s influences are most evident on “Competition” which brings to mind the songwriting and vocals of Robert Forster of The Go-Betweens while the rocking “Tearing The Posters Down” -- a favorite at first listen -- does the same for The Go-Between’s Grant McLennan. In addition, the bass introduction to the short piece “Resist“ is an obvious tip-of-the-musical-hat to The Go-Between‘s “Dusty In Here.”
It’s not surprising Torquil Campbell of Stars gave a shout-out to Dick Diver on Twitter. The last few songs on the album, “Boomer Class” and “Blue Time” have the kind of lovely male and female vocals that bring to mind the best work of Stars.
Dick Diver have been around for a while, but I’ve just discovered them. You should take the time to discover them as well.
Melbourne, Florida is out now on Chapter Music and Trouble In Mind Records.
In a bit of good timing for us, Dick Diver released the video for "Year In Pictures" just this week.
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