Diane Coll – Up From the Mud
This music opens with a heavy-laden progressive bravado with thick bass & drums woven through sparkling ethereal electronics. Yet, with all its Kate Bush underpinnings, Hawkwind spaciousness & wonderfully melodic tunes that follow – it’s a surprising set of intriguing, wonderfully crafted songs.
The heaviness is the introduction, the setup on the title instrumental track, but then Atlanta, GA-based Diane Coll’s convincing depth of music & vocals seeps in with “Eyes.” Her voice is like hearing a ‘60s female pop singer elevated into modern-day alternative rock splendor. The late middle-of-the-road ‘60s singer Gene McDaniels (“Tower of Strength” & “A Hundred Pounds of Clay”) did something similar when he moved from his pop label Liberty Records to Atlantic where he released the opposite of his song career pop tunes with a heavy-duty set known as “Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse.” What am I saying? I suggest Diane’s cool running through her musical contrasts is a well-produced, strongly brewed attempt that’s entertaining & yet has its strengths.
14 musical bubbles spring Up From the Mud (Drops Jan 7/Happy Fish Records). Diane’s 4th album self-produced in Atlanta, GA with Grammy-nominated Daniel Groover (drums/percussion/bass/electric guitar/keys/mad skills/percussion). The set is impressive with diversified original songs by Ms. Coll who instills vocal vigor in virtually every tune & does a fine job of inventing & maintaining a sturdy assembled original repertoire.
Diane never lingers long within the confines of pop, progressive, or alternative music but mixes it generously as if they were unified. “Night Sky Speaks” almost borders on a Nick Drake incentive. It’s dark, brooding, melancholy & smooth as velvet. Ms. Coll’s voice may be too brightly recorded for such a moody tune but that’s a minor infraction since the music is performed with the required drama.
Diane also steers clear of cliches & forges ahead with tight arrangements & expressive performances throughout these deeply personal compositions. Her skill infuses something that many singers seldom focus on & that is setting up a mood & atmosphere within the song’s structure. She delivers those qualities along with good intonation, inflection, phrasing & range. Her voice & music aren’t entirely folky, middle-of-the-road, or easy listening. There’s a personality that tints the showcase.
The most pop-intensive catchy tunes are “Girl I Used to Know,” & “Sugar” with commercial accessibility & mainstream attraction. However, “Body Don’t Lie” & “In the Moonlight” have depth.
Highlights – “Up From the Mud,” “Eyes,” “Night Sky Speaks,” “Girl I Used To Know,” “Devil’s Got Nothing,” “Body Don’t Lie,” “Sugar,” “Fool’s Gold,” “In the Moonlight,” & “All Is Well.”
Musicians – Diane (vocals/acoustic guitars/piano/keys/harmonium/hang drum), Jonny Daly (ambient electric guitar/produced “All Is Well” with Diane), Barry Watson (bass), Erica & Daniel Holloway (cello).
Color image courtesy of Diane’s YouTube. CD @ Bandcamp & https://www.facebook.com/DianeColl17
Song Premiere: https://americanahighways.org/2024/10/21/song-premiere-diane-coll-sugar/
