Album Review: Fabulous Diamonds - Commercial Music

Perth has always been a loyal follower of Fabulous Diamonds. From shows up rickety steps in abandoned dance studios to house gigs, this band holds a special place in the city's heart. Commercial Music (apparently no irony intended) is the Melbourne duo's fourth release, yet the first time they have included song or record titles.

Following on from 2010's Fabulous Diamonds II, the band have again employed Eddy Current Suppression Ring/Total Control guitarist Mikey Young as producer. Commercial Music was recorded in a mere four days, introducing a more dense sound for the band. Drummer Nisa Venerosa's haunting vocals are still heavily featured and provide an almost hypnotic adjunct to the drone of the songs. Lothario, the first release from the album, has a beat that draws you in, before chilling you with dark lyrics. Inverted Vamp makes good use of repetition (in a way that other bands might make you want to poke out an eye). By the time Venerosa is chanting “If you heard what your friends said when you left the room...” there is no turning back – you are stuck somewhere in between a dreamy trance and an uneasy, paranoid trip. John Song relies more on digital production than some of the band's previous work. This works in their favour. Keyboardist Jarrod Zlatic also lends his vocals to this track that details the life of a man who enjoys stolen steaks, 12 bottles of cider and long lines of speed.

Commerical Music should please old fans and win Fabulous Diamonds plenty of new ones, just not likely those with commercial/mainstream ears.