Dartmouth’s Diamondtown sounds like 60’s jangle pop heavyweights The Byrds pushed through the filter of a modern indie dream pop machine. The band is the most recent reinvention of Husband & Knife; a low-key East Coast super group that now includes long time collaborators KC Spidle (Dog Day) and Evan Cardwell, with the more recent addition of Chris Thompson (Eric’s Trip). “Forever” is only the second single to be released by the three-piece, and it’s been treated to a dizzying Christmas display with this new video.
The band note that they’re adhering to many of the same dark themes that Husband & Knife fans will be accustomed to. It’s still built upon the foundations of Spidle‘s solo work, but there’s the added oomph of Thompson’s bass, and a new focus on being a more collaborative effort.
“After recruiting Chris Thompson, who was in one of my all time favourite bands, Eric’s Trip, and who lived up the street from me in Dartmouth, we decided to create a more collaborative band than H&K,” explains Spidle.
The band find their sound with a clear nod to vintage bands that gently seep through the songs, distorted by a few decades that have seen The Cure and The Smiths along the way.
“We’re all big fans of harmony bands like The Byrds and The Beach Boys, so we’re exploring that side of things more with this stuff.”
Spidle explains that Diamondtown’s guitarist, Evan Cardwell, has been working a spell in Ontario, and their recording process has taken on the modus operandi of The Postal Service. They’ve been putting together an album by sending tracks back and forth via email.
“It’s the first time I ever recorded this way but it’s actually pretty cool building songs this way […] This song is a product of this new approach.”
“I guess the song is kind of about knowing when to move on when you’re in a bad situation,” says Spidle. “I’ve been there before I guess and it something I think about a lot. How change is good and nothing to fear.”
The band is currently finishing up the album, and while there are no specific dates yet (or even an album name), they are working on putting together a Spring/Summer festival tour. They also hint that they’ve got a few extra projects in the wings.
“We like making really dumb memes based around our name,” says Spidle. “Plan to release a coffee book someday in the distant future. It’s dumb.”