Finding Diamonds At The Center Of California

Another 7" I've been itching to get to. Funny Not Funny Records have put some ace music out in the past - their Super Vacations/Eternal Summers and Elephant Child/Demon Beat splits were especially great - and here is a newie, a two track sprawler from Virginia act The Diamond Center. It's a delight to have a 7" run for almost quarter of an hour, and the quality on offer is devastating. The tracks have a heaving quality, an intake of breath, that pulses like a living organism. The quiet/loud dynamic that is prevalent in psych music is evident, but also warranted, driving the tension in these tracks, yet also handled with warmth and care rather than haphazardly bludgeoning their songs to death. It's a lullaby of a release - deceptively beautiful, seductively soporific.


You can grab the 7" here.

Diamond Center - California

An Eternal Summer Requires Correct Behavio(u)r

Eternal Summers are preparing to launch the follow-up to the excellent debut LP Silver with Correct Behavior (that's their American misspelling, not mine!) and they have handed out some tasty morsels to get your teeth into. The Virginia trio (the duo have added a bassist) aren't so much a scrap pop band in the same realm as compatriots Reading Rainbow as they are treading a new line that wavers between the Sundays ('Millions') and the Breeders ('Able To' - although a track not on the album). I'm really looking forward to see how this sucker works out.


Correct Behavior is out July 24 through Kanine Records.

Eternal Summers - Millions
Eternal Summers - Able To