After venturing into the realms of experimentation with their last outing ‘Road To Rouen’, albeit very successfully. ‘Diamand Hoo Ha’ is very much back to basics; big choruses, catchy guitar licks and the cosy retro sound that’s made them so likeable.
The album breezes along in an effortlessly cool manner, opener ‘Diamond Hoo Ha Man’ hits you in the face with Coombes screaming ‘bite me’ and leaves you in a whirlwind of blues riffs Jimmy Page would be proud of. ‘Ghost Of a Friend’ is a soulful gem reminiscent of the Stones circa ‘Sticky Fingers’; where Gaz Coombes sounds spookily like Mick Jagger. ‘Rebel In You’ has got the potential to be single of the year its frighteningly catchy chorus where Coombes sings “hands down your beautiful” will be in your head quicker than you can say ‘Hoo Ha’.
After the riff raff of Kaiser Chiefs ‘whhoooaaa’ style choruses it’s great to hear them nail a good British pop song the way it should be done. Not quite a ‘diamond’ but still sees them rise to the occasion and produce something their modern day peers will be envious of.
