Diamond Ace - Sunset Highway

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Diamond Ace’s Sunset Highway moves through an exploration of love, loss and human emotion set against the backdrop of swirling synth textures and beautiful melodies. Diamond Ace adds his own skillful guitar work, along with his compositional abilities and is joined by a variety of different guests who each bring their own musical talent to bear on this touching and dreamy journey.

One of the strong factors for my enjoyment of Sunset Highway is the way in which Diamond Ace creates tranquil and achingly beautiful sonic imagery. There's a tenderness and a lush complexity to the musical backdrops that pulls me inward. Luminosity and smoothness fill the music and a sense of peaceful, sometimes pained emotion permeates the album.

Sunset Highway also draws me in thanks to Diamond Ace’s melody writing abilities. His melodies are enchanting and expressive, transmitting all of the emotional depth within the tracks. The songs with vocals are full of the feeling embodied by the lyrics and the artist captures the essence of the different guest performances with his melodic approach.

Of course, no Diamond Ace album would be complete without his superb guitar playing. He weaves together emotion and intricate skill to convey the full range of human experience. Not only does he write lyrics that are engaging, but he accompanies them with guitar playing that punches home their message and adds compelling sensations to the end product.

I also want to mention all of the musical guests on Sunset Highway. Each of them brings their own vocal ability or production skills to bear on the music and in so doing, intensify and add to the expressive power and engagement on the album as a whole.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Intro” starts as faraway, glassy arpeggios whirl and diamond chimes flicker. The musical elements shine with tranquility and blue light while the heavy bass forms a luscious flow beneath their glittering luminance. Arpeggios swirl faster and faster, accelerating into a rush as the looming bass rumbles. The shining sounds all mingle into a wildly spinning whole, galactic arms whirling at an impossible speed. I enjoy the way in which the musical flow forms a glow while the chimes twinkle and a distantly floating sound fades to silence.

Trumpeting synth swirls out in bold lines to kick off “The Unknown.” The incandescent synth moves with brightly lit background notes that sparkle brilliantly. The bass undulates heavily as the kick drum begins to thump, while lush light pours from the lead synth, motion and strength growing above the surging low end.

Now the crisp snare drum joins the other percussive elements on the creaking bass to propel the music with active power. Hovering sounds rise in the distance with a diaphanous gleam, while the bass oscillates and the drums flourish. Ethereal chimes float past, carrying a melody full of mystery and gentleness.

The jumping low end and pulsing drums move with the steadily whirling notes. Now Diamond Ace’s guitar leaps into action with a melody that is free and wild, adventurous and exploratory as it wheels above the smoothly guiding drums and bass. The guitar solo then drifts away into a much more silky, soothing guitar melody before the track ends.

Gigantic drums and a quickly oscillating synth that emanates luminescence to begin “Night Drive”. The low end pulses heavily, while smooth sounds shine out and glide like streetlights on asphalt. A powerful sense of rolling down a road at night fills me with adventurous sensations, while tenuous chimes exude silky light.

The low end continues to throb deeply as the synth pulsates. Worshipful sound sweeps from a softly lit synth as the chimes sparkle with delicacy. The artist's guitar flies now, feeling like a powerful motor driving into the night. I enjoy the bluesy sensation of the solo as it flows smoothly from the artist’s talented fingers.

Underneath, the drums and bass drive like a car through the night. Chimes glimmer while the guitar snarls like a powerful V8 and twists in intricate motion. As the guitar cries out, the low end continues to pulse and fades into silence.

“Thing About Love” opens with gossamer, gliding synth slipping in with luscious bass as worshipful notes shine. A steadily pulsing drum beat creates a hollow, guiding feeling as Mayah Camara’s lush and expressive vocals cry out, carrying a melody full of passion and love.

As the drums and heavy bass shape the music, Mayah Camara’s soulful voice transmits the feeling within the lyrics powerfully. I am always drawn to the strength of her performances as she captures my emotions with her beautiful voice.

As the gliding music slips and entangles, peaceful desire moves through the song. The vocals are smooth and full of sensation as they drive the entire piece. The drums burst in tumbling motion as Diamond Ace’s guitar adds fragile incandescence in the distance. The low end continues to turn over with Mayah Camara’s voice reaching out and touching my soul. As the track slips by in an easy-going flow, tranquility and affection permeate before silence falls.

Our storyteller feels her heart beating and butterflies fluttering when the song's subject calls her name. She points out that “in your hands, I melt like butter.” She goes on to say that they're more than lovers “when we're alone, under covers” because in the “heat of flames, it'll never be the same again.”

The narrator adds that the funny thing about love is that she wants to give everything to the other person. She adds, “I’d tear down the stars in the sky for you, I’d give you it all.” One touch from the song's subject and she fell apart because “I'm addicted to all of the things you do, so addicted I can't get enough of you.”

When she and the song’s subject have a “rendezvous, a sweet encounter,” she finds herself getting lost because the other person makes her “flounder,” as she points out that they are “really something else.” The way the situation makes her feel is “so transcending,” and she's become dependent on the other person as she concludes, “I need your touch. I shouldn’t need it all this much.”

Slowly twinkling synth moves in the distance to commence “Never Lose.” Bass rumbles massively as Lisa Marie Perkins' voiceover expresses individuality and resilience. The bass continues to throb and heavy drums drive as the Diamond Ace's guitar carries a caressing and hurting melody above panpipes which levitate in silken motion.

Lisa Marie Perkins' voice is floating and full of emotional depth, carrying the melody which hurts and dreams. The drums flourish as the echoing vocals add an aching feeling while the background trembles with fragile luminosity. The guitar flows again, capturing thoughtful rumination, deepening the sensation of loss with affecting beauty.

The guitar tangles with graceful tranquility and Lisa Marie Perkins' performance is touching and draws me in while the drums continue to pulsate. The panpipes glide past with breathy relaxation as the guitar floats out into silence.

The narrator “woke up today feeling hopeless inside,” adding that she doesn't know. The other person's “words come through, it’s like a vortex reaching for the signs.” She’s going crazy “against all odds when the battle is at hand” and wants to start again. Now she says every chance taken is always worth it, adding a reminder that she should never lose herself or her mind - against all odds.

“Our Sunrise” starts off as limpid notes drift off into open space. Deep peace fills the music as the fragile notes are supported by hugely rumbling bass, moving below with supporting strength. As the track grows in power, the drums and bass begin to pulsate richly, swelling to full energy.

The track becomes smoothly propulsive as the serene notes flow past in a gliding river of sound. Soft affection fills the music with a wonderful sense of caring and love. I am touched by the emotion on display here, an artist's homage to one he truly loves. The drums continue to punch hard while intermingled notes shimmer with solar brightness.

A scintillating synth spills warm light across the throbbing low end, capturing undying commitment. The drums continue to hit hard while the gleaming synth glides. The drums drop and the bass undulates with muscled support as azure feelings fill me. Tightly wound notes continue to vibrate as the bass moves below.

Silence falls briefly before wind sweeps in and a piercing synth moves with resonating bass as smooth arpeggios wriggle. All of the clarity of a summer’s day fills the synth as it pours through the music and the low end continues to add shape.

Smoothly gliding notes gain strength while feeling contemplative to open "Sunset Highway." Arpeggios intertwine as they fill the background with a filigreed glint. Bass moves in hollow lines with great weight as the tremulous arpeggios all swirl into a powerful whole. Laser-like sounds move through the dense blanket of intermingled sound before the powerful kick drum and sharp snare form a steady heartbeat.

The surging notes all tumble together in an urgent, complex pattern as the drums continue to hit hard above the thick bass. The feeling of irrepressible energy is joined by serene chimes which levitate in laid-back motion, cruising along with a soothing insouciance which I enjoy. The massive size of the music behind the mellow melody is an interesting contrast. The low end ripples in silk and motion as the bass continues to rumble and ghostly sounds float past.

Once again, peace permeates the music as the drums return with the quickly spinning arpeggios all woven into a tapestry of sound. The thumping drum moves with a heartbeat as the drums flourish and again the elevated notes slip out in the tranquil melody which drifts in elegant tendrils above the sonic richness around it. The drums drive on to guide the music to an end above the powerful intertwining synth sound bath.

"I Wish You the Best" starts as deeply powerful drums pound and erupt as a phone rings. Tom hits add their distinctive sound above the crisp snare drum and swelling notes flare delicately. The floating sounds move with every grace as the unctuous bass moves below. Diamond Ace’s guitar smoothly unwinds in a hypnotic pattern that is soothing and tenderly warming.

In the distance, the synths grow into dense, glistening clouds as the heavy drums bounce. The guitar hovers with soft, touching sensations as the vocals move again, full of loss and caring. Radiant synth cries out above the tumbling low end with piercing light as the low end continues to pulsate. Flooding light moves through every part of the music as the guitar leaps again, slightly rough-edged and passionate, carrying me above it with ardent emotion.

The drums continue to throb as the scintillating synth shines fiercely behind the emotive guitar. The low end cruises on as the tom hits reverberate again and the track slips into silence.

Conclusion

Sunset Highway is an exquisite sonic journey permeated by emotional strength and touching tenderness. When one adds the depth of musical talent which Diamond Ace has included along with his own guitar playing and songwriting skills, the end result is an album which gives me a great deal of listening pleasure.