Diane Coll – Old Ghosts
While Diane Coll showcases songs in a somewhat late 60s Laurel Canyon demeanor (“Another Rhyme,” “When You Fly”) she does inject enough present-day clusters to not sound retro whatsoever. Her voice is luxurious with her cool spray of acoustic guitar & other un-intruding instruments. There’s a pleasantness to each tune.
The songs won’t shake you up like early Patti Smith or sound commercially viable as early Carly Simon, but she has all the necessary ingredients to be contemporary & highly interesting. She has a resonant voice held up by stylistically solid arrangements. It may not be what is big today (read Taylor Swift) but as far as Americana & folk/rock – there’s a richness in each tune with a Mary Chapin Carpenter texture.
There doesn’t seem much controversy woven into these tunes. They’re earthy, melodic & rootsy. They will sound even better if the female listeners wear peasant blouses & patchouli. Just for the atmosphere. There are 12 imaginative tunes on Diane’s 2nd CD Old Ghosts (Drops Jan 16-Happy Fish). It’s a collection that explores some deep subjects & isn’t as light-hearted as her previous outing.
Two standouts with sheer originality are “Before the Sun,” & the groovy narrated “I Don’t Know,” (a style done before but it’s well executed here). The percussive drive punctuates nicely & the song is just icing on her musical cake.
Diane (vocals/acoustic guitar/piano/keys/harmonium/percussion) mixes it up & sometimes the songs work & sometimes not so much. But there aren’t many missteps because even those can fade into the background as descent cuts to other ears. I like the mediative aura that she allows to run through some of the more delicate tunes (“Slipping Away”) which isn’t anything special, but you can hear the splendor she allows in the song skillfully to be the focus even more than the mere song itself.
“This Heart,” has a more mature voice. This is a wonderful tune. Exceptional with the addition of background singers & the arrangement is gripping. This could easily be a country hit – it has that crossover value added.
I think it’s an enjoyable set as a whole. It reminds me a little of the late impeccable singer-songwriters like Eva Cassidy crossed with Diane Izzo (“Venice” & “One”). I like Diane Coll’s fluent songwriting approach & vocal finesse.
Produced & recorded in Atlanta, Georgia by Diane Coll & Daniel Groover (drums/vocals/bass/slide guitar/keys/harmony/percussion).
Highlights – “Another Rhyme,” “When You Fly,” “Before the Sun,” “I Don’t Know,” “This Heart,” “Glow Candlelight,” “Old Ghosts,” “One Lullaby” & “Love Part II.”
Musicians – Jonny Daly (electric & pedal steel guitars), Nancy Moore & Bryan Shumate (background vocals).
Color image courtesy of Troy Moore & Daniel Groover. CD @ https://dianecoll.bandcamp.com/album/old-ghosts
