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dianogah, "Old Material, New Format," "As Seen From Above," and "Battle Champions"
This week I am spotlighting two bands that are currently in the studioworking on their new releases by looking back on their back catalogs. Ifinally rounded up dianogah's first proper album, "As Seen From Above,"recently, thus completing my dianogah CD collection (they have a few 7"singles I've yet to collect, but soon...). dianogah, named after thetrash compactor beast in Star Wars - but with an "h" added to avoidcopyright issues, I imagine - are a three-piece rock band comprised oftwo bass players Jason Harvey and Jay Ryan, and drummer Kip McCabe.This makes for an interestingly melodic sound for primarily low-endinstruments. Yes, kids, this is instrumental indie rock, but with a farmore impressive range then you might expect from such limitedinstrumentation. The name is certainly fitting, as the music pulls youin seductively, but has a punch to it that you'd never expect. My firstexposure to dianogah was their track on the fantastic "Reach The Rock"soundtrack, "Dreams Of Being King." Having also seen the film (worth itonly to see how the soundtrack is used, mind you), the song isperfectly placed, underscoring the sole "moment" in the whole piece. 
I immediately had to hear more from this band, so I purchased theirfirst CD release, actually a compilation of their first singles called"Old Material, New Format" on My Pal God. I slipped it into my CDplayer, and waited for that melodic glory to come out of my speakers.Sure, it was there -- for the first few seconds of the first track,"One Hundred Percent Tree." Then: vocals. Not very good ones, either.Drowned in the mix, and more spoken than sung, the vocals by Jay Ryanseemed awkward when paired with the music. Or they would, if the musicwas on the same level of "Dreams Of Being King." This was dianogah attheir early stages, and it showed. After repeated listens, though, nowthe songs have a certain charm to them. It's like enjoying Mogwai nowfor what they are and do, then listening to the awkward loud/softmissteps of "Ten Rapid." It's got its moments. Next in order of releaseis the proper album "As Seen From Above." This was certainly closer towhat I expected to hear. Driving, intertwining basslines, stable andfirm drumming, and little variations that build and strive to astunning climax. Yet another band that appreciates that the silence andbreaks in the song are just as important as the moments where allcylinders are firing. "What Is Your Landmass?" thumps right along,before settling into the cymbal-crashing tirade of a finale. Stillthere were vocals, but they seemed to have improved over the firstrelease (go figure). Jay becomes more confident with his voice,reaching a delivery half They Might Be Giants/half The Inbreds.
Then there is their second full-length, released after the "Reach TheRock" soundtrack, "Battle Champions." My god. The dream is fullyrealized on this release. dianogah occasionally record with othermusicians, releasing the results as "Team Dianogah" releases. Thistime, they add to their own sound, augmenting it with guitar and piano.From the second track, "At The Mercy Of The Mustang," I was hooked.Steve Albini just lets the boys rock out, and doesn't affect therelease at all, leaving us with the driving rhythms and gorgeousmelodies that make "Dreams Of Being King" pale as Willem Dafoe in"Shadow Of The Vampire." The album's centerpiece, "Indie Rock SpockEars," is playful and poignant, starting off slower than most dianogah,but building on right into an accomplished groove and great interplaybetween the bassists. Lovely. There are still vocals on a few songs,but they're no longer as jarring, and actually complement the musicwell. I would recommend "Battle Champions" to anyone who likes greatinstrumental indie rock. If you like that, move your way back. Alsolook for a new album next year. There's a lot to be discovered underthe surface...
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