Music News - Diamond Field releases an album of "21st Century 80's Music"
26 August 2021 - 0 Comments
Diamond Field’s Andy Diamond worked on the album with vocalists and musicians from across the US, to Scotland and New Zealand. All fine artists in their own right, vocalists include Cody Carpenter (Ludrium, John Carpenter), Chelsea Nenni (Late Slip), Nik Brinkman (Junica, Over The Atlantic), Belinda Bradley (Selon Recliner), Kyle Brauch (Midwave, Rain Rabbit), Becca Starr and Miriam Clancy with return appearances from previous Diamond Field collaborators Nina Luna and Matthew J. Ruys. The Saxophone Warrior (Felix Pastorius’ Hipster Assassins, Fischerspooner, Lord Huron) makes a special appearance on sax, with LA’s Rodger Cunningham on guitar. Ex-pat New Zealander Andy has also performed and recorded with many of these artists outside of Diamond Field, making the collaboration process feel like a musical family affair.
Diamond Field’s sound is inspired by 80's producers like Hugh Padgham (Phill Collins, The Police), Rupert Hine (Howard Jones, The Fixx) and Peter Wolf (Wang Chung, Survivor), whose production techniques mixed traditional instruments with the latest tech of the time. On Diamond Field, electric guitars, bass, and ‘real’ drums are combined with drum machines, sequencers, and synthesizers; vocals are up front and stacks of backing vocals regularly fill out the choruses.
For the songwriting, inspiration comes from many places – from ABBA to Michael Sembello, The Go Go’s to Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark. Careful attention is given to song arrangements – intros to draw you in, pre-choruses build, choruses soar, solos and middle eights keep you engaged. Hooks are everywhere and stick in your head – this is “ear worm central”! Despite the varied song styles and different vocalists, Diamond Field still feels like a cohesive album – like a compilation of pop hits, but all from one artist.
All the album’s tracks were written before the covid-19 pandemic with final mixing taking place over the course of 2020 and early 2021. By chance, many of the song lyrics deal with hope and positivity, and combined with the album’s catchy music, it makes Diamond Field an ideal soundtrack as find our way forward.
“It is easy to parody Eighties synth-pop (all that emotional dislocation) or turn it into kitsch but that's not what's happening here: this is a respectful and knowledgable tribute to the genre courtesy of original songs (in the style, but stand-alone items) and tracks like Spills Like Love (with Cody Carpenter) are just terrific dancefloor fillers in their own right. Check It's Your Time with Becca Starr and Used to Be with Chelsea Nenni.” – Graham Reid, Elsewhere
“Applied with engaging productions and arrangements, the music captures the spirit of the pioneering MTV era and classic Brat Pack movie soundtracks. Like a high tech K-Tel compilation album but from the baton of one conductor, this is perhaps the most cohesive multi-vocalist album since the only long player to date by KLEERUP which combined electro-soul, synthpop, Italo, kosmische and ambient. Diamond Field has successfully thrown in new wave, synthpop, funk, R ‘n’ B’ and AOR into one escapist pot.” – Chi Ming Lai, The Electricity Club UK
The physical release comes in the form of a limited edition hot pink vinyl with a 12x24” insert and a high quality cassette distributed via LA-based boutique vinyl label Sofa King Vinyl. In 2019 Sofa King Vinyl released Diamond Field and Bob Haro’s Won’t Compromise on colored 7” vinyl, the first title in Sofa King’s “Synthy Sevens” series that included 7” vinyl releases from Let Em Riot, TEEEL, Palm Lakes and Glitterwolf. Sofa King Vinyl’s previous releases include Opus Science Collective, The Motion Epic and Australia’s much loved synth duo Client Liaison.
Note: Due to increased production times, vinyl and cassette availability will be available later in 2021.
Separate masters specially for digital, vinyl and cassette were cut by Adam Boose at Cauliflower Audio Mastering. Boose specializes in optimal mastering for vinyl and works closely with Sofa King Vinyl on all its vinyl releases. Cassettes will be duplicated in real-time from 24bit masters.
Diamond Field – out now on digital and streaming platforms.
Pre-orders for vinyl and cassette editions available through Sofa King Vinyl.
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