One of the things I love about writing for The Moshville Times is the variety of music that comes our way. It pushes you often out of your comfort zone, away from your usual genres and opens up a whole new world of aural pleasure. After a long, dark winter I couldn’t have picked a more heart warming album than this debut from Diet Cig.
Already drawn to this gorgeous, bright tapestry cover; I’m intrigued to find out what this two piece from New York have to offer. Following the release of their Over Easy E.P in 2015, Alex Luciano (guitar/vocals) and drummer Noah Bowman are set to release Swear I’m Good at This on April 7th 2017 via Frenchkiss Records.
Touching the soul right from the very first line in “16”, Alex’s vocals have you hook, line and sinker. Quirky and cute Bjork instantly draws to mind, as does Nina Persson (The Cardigans). I’m instantly thrown back to summer days in my youth, lying on the grass drinking beer with friends, listening to Britpop; revelling in one another’s heartaches, hopes and dreams for the future. This is indeed very much the theme of the album for me.
At times it got me thinking is it all a bit too sickly sweet? But the more I listened and tuned into the lyrics, the message of day to day struggles that we all face right from adolescence and throughout adulthood rang loud and clear; making it a perfect balance. A bit like a fairytale you know; all magic and beautiful on the outside but with the awareness that a wicked queen would be lurking around the corner, through the other side of the haunted wood.
Most prevalent in “Bath Bomb” a sublime number, about sitting in the bath until you’re completely shrivelled and cold, but you’d rather sit here; in your safe place than face what’s outside. Dealing with loss and trying to be comfortable just being yourself.
“Barf Day” is another album highlight for me, one of the more heavier tracks towards the end, a real grunge/garage feel, Alex screams about messed up days, drinking alone, thinking no one cares, self-pitying “I’m sick of being my own best friend” (yeah, we’ve all been there).
Predominantly poppy/grunge, there are also some real rock ‘n’ roll-fuelled tracks; “Link in Bio” literally had me dancing around the room. Noah’s drumming stripped back and raw sounding means you can’t sit still to many tracks. Again lyrically full of angst and frustration. You know when you’re really angry and someone tells you to calm down – yeah, that! The music was in contrast almost too happy to articulate the lyrics. But I quite like this twist in their writing style, like eating a nice shiny apple and finding a rotten core.
Love song “Apricots” in contrast is a divine little acoustic number about finally loosing your inhibitions when you find the one, and want the world to know about it, and you’ve stopped caring about how others see you. Whereas bitter sweet “I Don’t Know Her” is about falling in love with someone, who doesn’t know, and is also in love with someone else. But being the friend you are, you comfort them on their heartache. Ouch.
“Blob Zombie” is another personal highlight, slightly more pop-punk, again Alex’s vocals suck you in, passionate and offering some personal insight into her head full of great dreams and ideas, if only she can overcome her anxieties. This lyrical theme follows on in “Road Trip”: it’s all about escape, not physically, but trying to find your actual self, your own life direction.
Album favourite “Tummy Ache” delves deeper into standing alone, becoming confident in who you are, your sexuality, not needing anyone to rely on. A real punk vibe Alex vocalises her struggles within the music industry itself I think. “It’s hard to be punk while wearing a skirt”, her voice becoming more angst driven and visceral as the track builds.
An album much better perceived listened to in its entirety rather than stand alone tracks, it tells a story. There’s something we can all relate to on there. It’s an album that’s just as well suited to losing yourself on a beach or a long walk through the wood, as it is cranked up loud at a house party, where you know it will get everyone dancing. About to embark on an American tour April 5th, a band very much in their infancy have produced a very worthy album.
Swear I’m Good at This is released on 7th April
