Description

Matthew Hornell and the Diamond Minds are four time Music Newfoundland and Labrador winners. They exploded onto the St. John’s music scene a few years back and completely took it by storm in a big way. Huge, sweaty and appreciative crowds have become trademark at their shows. Fans have come to expect the high octane, furious folk rock sound that has become the band’s signature. Hornell, as a writer, is an introspective observer of himself and his relationship to his natural surroundings. Like the great heart-on-sleeve songwriter’s that have preceded him, Hornell serves up incredibly poignant and honest commentaries about love, loss and longing by turning the mirror away from the world and pointing it at himself. The result is a collection of songs that speak for many from the perspective of one. This multiple Music NL award-winning album itself is steeped in the traditions of acoustic folk music. Mandolin, acoustic guitar, bass and drums represent the core of the album and give a harder edge to some of the tracks. Banjo and some lovely cello work add a great starch to the record as well (see Khaki Dodgers and Waiting for a Train). This album is an album of dynamic peaks and valleys. Raucous, wine-soaked declarations of love and loss intermingle with quiet moments of self reflection to make this one of our most talked about and positively received albums in years.