Diluvia
Reviews
Francis D
Reviewed 2013-03-13
Reviewed 2013-03-13
“Diluvia” Freelance Whales
Indie rock-pop with a distinctive playfulness that is the band’s trademark. The five-piece group’s sophomore effort follows its ghost-themed “Weathervanes” with a space-themed set of 11 songs. Melodies are amazingly layered with synth orchestration, squiggles or scratches, horns, lead vocals and harmonies, and frequently, the Whales’ trademark banjo and glockenspiel. Lyrics can be hard to understand but range from the very sexy “Spitting Image” to the esoteric “The Nothing.” A very strong follow-up to its debut CD.
— Francis
Recommended: 5, 4, 10, 6, 9, 1. No FCCs detected.
1. (3:37) Aeolus — Starts with Skype-like tones. Haunting harmonies over a clock-like melody with familiar lead vocals by lead Whale, Judah Dadone. **
2. (3:58) Land Features — Banjo prominent at beginning. Rat-a-tat drums. Sweeping synth orchestration and horns throughout.
3. (5:12) Follow Through — Brilliantly layered composition that builds to bigger, more anthemic sound. Hypnotic, swirling synths embrace Dadone’s strong vocals. ***
4. (4:02) Spitting Image — The Whales’ other lead vocalist, Doris Cellar, takes the lead on what might be the band’s most accessible single to-date. Soaring synths and harmonies. ****
5. (5:21) Locked Out — Pulsing melody, synth, glockenspiel and staccato drumming drive this strong indie pop tune. Horns add nice touch at end. ****
6. (3:50) Dig Into Waves — Harp-like synth opens. Flowing and fully orchestrated with big chorus and crashing cymbals. ***
7. (5:03) Red Star — Floating on a space walk, mesmerized by the stars. Vocals echo in the vastness. Becomes more structured midway through with point-counterpoint vocals by Dadone and Cellar.
8. (5:08) Winter Seeds — Cellar takes lead. Starts airy and ethereal like Hundred Water, then transforms to a more typical Whales’ sound.
9. (4:36) The Nothing — Atmospheric at start, but shifts into a cinematic song that could be the Fleet Foxes or Poor Moon. Very strong vocals. ***
10. (7:43) DNA Bank — Cosmic noise swells in the background of space. Develops into pensive, swirling vocals and banjo. Then shifts again after 4 1/2 minutes to uplifting, hopeful synth and horn-driven close. Fabulous – should have ended CD. ***
11. (4:23) Emergence Exit — Airy ending number with translucent waves of synth and rolling drums.
Indie rock-pop with a distinctive playfulness that is the band’s trademark. The five-piece group’s sophomore effort follows its ghost-themed “Weathervanes” with a space-themed set of 11 songs. Melodies are amazingly layered with synth orchestration, squiggles or scratches, horns, lead vocals and harmonies, and frequently, the Whales’ trademark banjo and glockenspiel. Lyrics can be hard to understand but range from the very sexy “Spitting Image” to the esoteric “The Nothing.” A very strong follow-up to its debut CD.
— Francis
Recommended: 5, 4, 10, 6, 9, 1. No FCCs detected.
1. (3:37) Aeolus — Starts with Skype-like tones. Haunting harmonies over a clock-like melody with familiar lead vocals by lead Whale, Judah Dadone. **
2. (3:58) Land Features — Banjo prominent at beginning. Rat-a-tat drums. Sweeping synth orchestration and horns throughout.
3. (5:12) Follow Through — Brilliantly layered composition that builds to bigger, more anthemic sound. Hypnotic, swirling synths embrace Dadone’s strong vocals. ***
4. (4:02) Spitting Image — The Whales’ other lead vocalist, Doris Cellar, takes the lead on what might be the band’s most accessible single to-date. Soaring synths and harmonies. ****
5. (5:21) Locked Out — Pulsing melody, synth, glockenspiel and staccato drumming drive this strong indie pop tune. Horns add nice touch at end. ****
6. (3:50) Dig Into Waves — Harp-like synth opens. Flowing and fully orchestrated with big chorus and crashing cymbals. ***
7. (5:03) Red Star — Floating on a space walk, mesmerized by the stars. Vocals echo in the vastness. Becomes more structured midway through with point-counterpoint vocals by Dadone and Cellar.
8. (5:08) Winter Seeds — Cellar takes lead. Starts airy and ethereal like Hundred Water, then transforms to a more typical Whales’ sound.
9. (4:36) The Nothing — Atmospheric at start, but shifts into a cinematic song that could be the Fleet Foxes or Poor Moon. Very strong vocals. ***
10. (7:43) DNA Bank — Cosmic noise swells in the background of space. Develops into pensive, swirling vocals and banjo. Then shifts again after 4 1/2 minutes to uplifting, hopeful synth and horn-driven close. Fabulous – should have ended CD. ***
11. (4:23) Emergence Exit — Airy ending number with translucent waves of synth and rolling drums.
Recent airplay
Locked Out
KZSU Time Traveler — Jun 15, 2018
Dna Bank
KZSU Time Traveler — Dec 15, 2017
Dna Bank
Time Traveler — Nov 11, 2016
Dna Bank
Time Traveler — Feb 19, 2016
Dna Bank
Time Traveler — Aug 21, 2015
Locked Out
Time Traveler — Sep 05, 2014
Charting
2013-03-16 — 2013-05-19
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| May 19 | 2 |
| May 12 | 1 |
| May 5 | 1 |
| Apr 28 | 1 |
| Apr 21 | 2 |
| Apr 14 | 2 |
| Apr 7 | 1 |
| Mar 31 | 3 |
Track listing
| 1. | Aeolus | ||
| 2. | Land Features | ||
| 3. | Follow Through | ||
| 4. | Spitting Image | ||
| 5. | Locked Out | ||
| 6. | Dig Into Waves | ||
| 7. | Red Star | ||
| 8. | Winter Seeds | ||
| 9. | The Nothing | ||
| 10. | Dna Bank | ||
| 11. | Emergence Exit |