The Black Tones’ Diamond Ruby Night: An Early Listen Under the Lasers
Release Announcement
Diamond Ruby Night
The Black Tones
Out October 30 Reptar Records
Advance listening party and laser show, Laser Dome at Pacific Science Center
Often I'm discouraged. I hear Seattle music and think, "I've heard that before," or "This sounds like that other band that's already on the scene," and I think that for every damn song I hear at the show or on the album. Sometimes that's just someone new who's still feeling out their sound and learning a studio. Hell, I'm still there myself some days. But often it's musicians playing what they think other people want instead of what they want to hear from themselves. That's a natural path for any aspiring musician and shouldn't be discouraged, but I still hear a lot of potentially authentic voices caving to be accepted and missing out on being potentially unpopular but truly unique.
Well, tonight I got to experience an exception to that feeling. Listening to The Black Tones' new album, Diamond Ruby Night, accompanied by an amazing laser show built specifically for the music, I was reminded that some musicians still strive to blend as many stylistic elements as possible while staying in a groove all their own. Eva Walker's reverberating vocals over each track reminded me of a blend of '80s synth with '60s and '70s rock. One of their songs reminded me of White Lies' "Farewell to the Fairground," a late 2000s banger of a tune, and it wound up being Don's favorite song from the album. Don Farwell is also the reason I was there, as he produces the weird mess that is Polybanderous, but that's an unimportant aside, because the point is Don was very instrumental in the making of this album. It's refreshing to be inspired by the musicians you're lucky enough to share any orbit with, and damn, tonight really made me want to make better music. And really, isn't that the best damn part of music? Well done Eva, Don, and the rest of The Black Tones. I'm both inspired and encouraged by your new album, which is out digitally on October 30th.
Singles out now
Bombs Brain Brain