Rainbow Arabia – Boys and Diamonds
Reviewed by Sadie O., 3/30/11
Global pop (maybe I just made that term up?) Husband and wife from LA with musical (especially percussive) influences from all over the world and (according to the one-sheet) now outer space as well. It’s Pop at heart (esp. the vocals), but it’s global. I dig it. And I almost NEVER dig Pop.
1. 3:08 ***midtempo forceful syncopation, echo-laden vocals, snakey and pretty, but what is stalking you from the shadows?
2. 3:33 ***totally bitchen-ass percussion – maybe a hint of gamelan feel, with electronic hums. Still, vocals are indie-pop. Mash-up!
3. 3:35 ****another totally awesome syncopated beat – very complex, and influenced by everywhere. GREAT beats in last half.
4. 3:20 ***clibbity clop beat, bit of 80’s Pop, bit of.. Thailand?
5. 4:38 ****rather slow, dark, deep beat, with some definite dub. Beat kinda fades out over the last half, into oddments and effects.
6. 3:13 ***the beating of those native drums! On a very off-balance merry-go-round. Oof!
7. 3:10 **slow beat apparently originating underwater. Very echo-y vocals, unbalanced riddim, gradually coming together, sorta.
8. 4:13 **big electronic chords and boops. Maybe kind of an 80’s feel.
9. 3:18 **rather happy-sounding beats and chords – cool percussion doesn’t start until a minute in, but it’s nice when it happens.
10. 3:39 **midtempo, rather restrained beat, kinda dubby, gnarly effects on the vocals.
11. 6:05 ***heavy 4/4 beat and bells, reverby stuff that sounds like the freakin’ Who or something! Just when I thought it had gone on long enough, some truly demented vocals – far out!