Nick Diamonds, City of Quartz Album Review

By: Nicole Kukla
Local Music Reviewer

Artist: Nick Diamonds
Album: City of Quartz
Label: Manqué Music
Release Date: June 16, 2015
Website: https://nickdiamonds.bandcamp.com/

Nicholas Thorburn, former front man of Montreal bands the Unicorns and Islands, debuted his new solo album City of Quartz under his stage name, Nick Diamonds. His album combines gloomy, glitch vibe synthpop to create a trance-like sound. I absolutely love the Unicorns, and Islands so I was ecstatic to hear Nick Diamonds new solo album, and honestly it will not disappoint. He takes sounds from his former bands to create a unique trance-dub pop album that will make anyone dance. This album seems like two albums in one; there are a few poppy, lighthearted tracks and then the gloomy trance songs. “Witch Window,” “Bohemian Groove,” and “Something about the Moon,”are the more upbeat tracks on the album. “City of Quartz,” “The Sting,” and “God Internet” have a gloomier dubstep sound. I like that he combines both feel-good, and dark songs to the album, because there is a track for every mood.

The track “I’m Nobody,” he samples a creepy Charles Manson interview to loop over the instrumental track. He uses a Charles Manson’s famous quote in the track, “I’m nobody. I’m a tramp, a bum, a hobo. I’m a boxcar and a jug of wine. And a straight razor…if you get too close to me.” If you do not give the entire album a listen, I highly recommend listening to at least “I’m Nobody.” I enjoyed this album; I think there is a song for everyone due to its broad-spectrum of tracks. Nick Diamonds will be performing in Austin, Texas at Holy Mountain on September 8, 2015.