Diamond Hoo Ha

Supergrass, the most cheerful group in England

Rock band Supergrass from Oxford, England, was formed at the beginning of the 1990s and since then enjoyed success although the path it has walked has not always been easy. Playing music that could be referred to Britpop brothers Gaz and Rob Coombes playing guitar and keyboards respectively, drummer Danny Goffey and bassist and back vocalist Mick Quinn were different from such bands as Oasis and Blur for practically complete absence of seriousness non of which has appeared with the years. Supergrass' funny texts and exuberant music quickly brought them the fame of the most cheerful group in England, and their 1995 hit Alright became popular both in Great Britain and across the ocean. This year the band releases its sixth album Diamond Hoo Ha, a follow-up to the 2005 work Road to Rouen. Diamond Hoo Ha has been recorded last year in Berlin and New York and presents a collection of songs that never decline from Supergrass brand style – colorful, emotional pieces of music that certainly will add some light into your daily routine and the lyrics that causes a smile and at some points only calls to reflection.

Breathtaking music on Diamond Hoo Ha

As on Supergrass' previous works the main role on Diamond Hoo Ha is performed by the harmonies created by the guitarist and drummer's playing and the vocalist's voice, and when the keyboards are added to them the music is simply breathtaking. The very first sounds of the album on the opener Diamond Hoo Ha Man impress with guitars immediately reminding of the band's most successful works, and the song itself is a great contagious track. The second single Bad Blood is a harder composition with pessimistic lyrics building an oppressive atmosphere whereas Rebel In You is an absolute leader of the record in the respect of guitars and back vocals, with a melody performed rather by the instruments than by the vocalist. Piano appears on When I Needed You, a desperate song pleasing with a memorable tune while The Return Of ... is the point in which the general album tempo gets a bit slower and the band sounds more thoughtful and at times even romantic. A definite highlight is Ghost Of A Friend, the lightest and most melodious composition on the album promising to become a hit, especially among those fond of nice guitar solos, and song Whiskey & Green Tea starts with the sounds of TV and is then refined with an almost punk chorus. Another success is track Outside, refined with singing in a high register, and the album final song Butterfly is another example of tunefulness combined with inimitable drums and the all the musicians' matched playing.

The sixth album easily enters the number of the band's best works

In 2004 collective Supergrass celebrated 10 years of its existence, releasing a compilation of singles Supergrass Is 10, witnessing that during all that time the band has practically not changed its sounding. When the guys only started playing half of them were still teenagers but today they have managed to preserve the energy and gayety which conquered the audience in the end. Despite the members being all over thirty they are an embodiment of the youth's idealism proving that the main thing is to have a young spirit. Remaining faithful to themselves on Diamond Hoo Ha as well in the respect of the cheerful sounding the guys, however, have allowed themselves some more serious and thoughtful tracks which in fact has hardly influenced the general impression the record produces. No doubt the sixth album of Supergrass easily enters the number of the band’s best works pleasing with faultless guitar hooks, Gaz Coombes' vocals and of course the most positive emotions. The band being known for making rather long hiatuses in its creative work it is worth while hoping that the following creation will not make us wait too long and will be the same bright and memorable as Diamond Hoo Ha.