Review: Diagonal – 4

Style: Prog Rock, Psychedelic, Space Rock, Jazz (clean vocals)

Review by: Will

Country: UK

Release date: 1 October 2021

We all know it’s wrong to judge a book by its cover (or album by its artwork). I have to admit, though, I did just that for 4; the latest (and fourth!) release from the British prog-rock sextet Diagonal. Alex Crispin’s gorgeous artwork featuring a penrose square, a levitating orange and liquid floating in a zero-gravity amorphous orb is somehow an excellent summation of the music: abstract, psychedelic, warm and strangely sublime.

Based in Bristol, Diagonal has long been established in the British prog scene having released their first album back way back in 2008. The band has had something of a habit of leaving their fans hanging between album releases: Four years between album one (Diagonal) and two (The Second Mechanism); and a whopping seven years until the third album, Arc. So, by Diagonal’s conception of time, this album was practically released immediately after its 2019 predecessor Arc.

Stylistically, 4 feels like a natural progression from Arc, retaining much of the gorgeous ‘70’s prog sound that has come to define Diagonal, but with enough new ideas to distinguish itself:  4 incorporates more elements of space-rock and post-rock into its repertoire, and there’s also a change in personnel on instruments (Alex Crispin stepping away from the organ in favour of a synth and bass, and David Polmett switching to guitar). The extra synths aid in creating that zero-gravity-space-rock feel and the extra guitar pays dividends on some of the heavier tracks like “Stellate”, giving the songs an extra sense of drive and lays a solid foundation for some of the scorching guitar solos delivered by David Wileman.

I’d recommend listening to Arc and 4 back to back to really appreciate how 4 manages to be a change in sound to and yet a natural progression of Arc: The last two tracks of Arc softly dissolve into ambient noise and harmonised vocals and 4’s first track “Amon” contrasts beautifully with it with its more guitar driven opening.

At a compact 37 minute runtime, the album is in itself an act of self-restraint and discipline so often absent in progressive music. Resultantly, none of the songs have any unnecessary excess and the album never feels like it’s dragging. That’s not to say this is a minimalist album – not at all: “Chroma” has some of the most sumptuous saxophone solos this side of Coleman Hawkins and “Spinning Array” features an eclectic mix of instruments including the Chinese Hulusi, as well as the humble recorder. But that is kept in check by a focused sounding writing process and un-elaborate but tightly executed instrumental pieces.  All this is put together in a beautifully engineered mix which emphasises some of those thick, warm 70’s tones.

Although the album does flow together, it very much feels like each song has its own distinct identity. “Amon”, named for musical collective Amon Düül II, is a tribute to 60s and 70s space rock; “Chroma” is more jazz infused with saxophone solos galore; “Spinning Array” is the most old-Diagonal song with its eclectic instrumental mix and vocal hooks; “Stellate” is the rockier track where the guitars are let off the lead; the sublime track “Totem” rounds off the album with a dreamy space-age soundscape that feels like a warm sunrise on a cold day.

While these distinct song identities help the album feel more focused, it does feel somewhat disparate at times with the tones somewhat separated like oil and water. As I eagerly await the next Diagonal album (give it another few years), I hope they can incorporate these different musical ideas together and perhaps feel more comfortable stretching their instrumental muscles and delivering a more complex work that puts together all the beautiful pieces they lay out in this album. It would have been great to hear some of those excellent guitar solos jamming in a jazzier song, or perhaps some soothing sax being incorporated into Diagonal’s rockier material. 

Just like its beautiful album art, the music of 4 is intriguing and beautiful and definitely worth a listen.

Recommended tracks: Totem, Chroma, Stellate
Recommended for fans of: Hawkwind, Liar, Rush, Jethro Tull, Explosions in the Sky, Amon Düül II, Mogwai
You may also like: SE:UM (for the eclectic blend of jazz and eastern instruments), Acid Mothers Temple
Final verdict: 8/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Prog-Archives page

Label: Cobblers Records – Bandcamp | Facebook

Diagonal is:
– Alex Crispin – Bass, Synthesiser, Electric Piano, Vocals
– Luke Foster – Drums, Percussion, Organ, Synthesiser, Vocals
– Ross Hossack – Synthesiser
– Daniel Pomlett – Guitar
– Nicholas Whittaker – Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Hulusi, Vocals
– David Wileman – Guitar