4

4.5 stars. This might be my favourite of the band's four studio albums. I always felt that Britain's DIAGONAL were psychedelic based, and this album shows them embracing that side of their sound in a big way. They have incorporated much more in the way of spacey sounds, kosmische and post rock. No less than four of the guys add synths. And this has always been a large six piece band with many of them being multi-instrumentalists. I love that this is 36 1/2 minutes long, over five tracks. They kept the title simple, consciously thinking of SOFT MACHINE doing the same.

I have to give a shout out to Cobbler Records for the very attractive package we get here. Alex Crispin recorded and mixed this record. And this was a surprise that they followed the previous album "Arc" from 2019 so quickly. There guys usually take their time between albums. But they wanted to keep the momentum going and so started the sessions for "4" only a year after the sessions for "Arc". The results speak for themselves.

"Amon" is a reference to AMON DUUL II, again a conscious step into kosmische music. Crispin is on bass and vocals here, and the two guitarists are prominent. But it's the sax that is the wild card when it comes to this band. It adds so much not only to this recording, but of course all of their albums. The organ leads after the guitars step back, and Luke Foster our very talented drummer takes care of that. He adds electric piano on another track. It turns very spacey late to end it with the synths dominating.

I really like the next track "Chroma" . It's one of two instrumental tracks, and shows the band's interest in jazz with the sax having it's way. Crispin not only does his usual bass and vocals stuff, he adds electric piano and synths. Those wordless vocals just hit the spot with me, so into this sound. A lot of depth here and mid-paced. "Spinning Array" is very psychedelic sounding and quite catchy with the vocals being prominent. The sax player adds a Chinese wind instrument along with flute. A rare song where he's not playing sax. The band says this song is the connection with the previous album "Arc".

"Stellate" is quite dense and sax led. The guitar lights it up after 2 1/2 minutes. That density is scaled way back by the 4 minute mark or so as the rhythm section impresses big time. Guitar is back at 5 minutes. So good. Finally we get the closer "Totem" an almost 12 minute piece that builds slowly. Love the wordless vocals here. That build ends around 5 minutes as they change it up. Vocals and guitar get their spotlight as this plays out in what feels like a jam.

Right now I have this in my top five for 2021. I have liked every thing I have heard from this band. This might be my favourite. The "Live At Roadburn" needs a mention as well.

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