Diamond Rings

The music of Diamond Rings can be subtle, reflective, and raw, but it can also be as aggressive as a bat out of hell. Throughout the sound there is an inescapable undercurrent of emotive force that hits you straight in the face. For those of you who are not familiar with Diamond Rings it is the synth pop project of Canadian singer/songwriter John O’Regan. When O’Regan first began touring he did so by himself. Most of his live sound such as drums, synth bass, and ambient noises were prerecorded and played from his laptop computer. He preformed all the lead melodies on a compact synth and sang modestly in a microphone. For a few of the songs like “Something Else” he would use only an acoustic guitar. In other words his setup was very minimal, but the results were amazing.
With the release of his second album “Free Dimensional” it seemed as though he stepped up his live performance by at least 10 notches. He recruited the help of a guitarist, drummer, and electronics operator (someone in control of synths, samplers, and effects). O’Regan took front and center as lead vocalist and often provided leading guitar riffs.
Diamond Rings have never sounded so tight nor exuberant as they do with this lineup.Their shows leave an indelible impression. O’Regan sports a David Bowie like look (think Aladdin Sane period), 80s goth inspired vocals and a compressed pop sound that is immediately reminiscent of the Cars. The deep synth textures and airtight mechanical structure of the guitars are represented perfectly live, perhaps even out reaching the quality of their album recordings.
Diamond Rings has matured as a live act and has developed a more sophisticated sound; however, you will be hard pressed to find a set absent of older material. I am wholeheartedly thankful that this is the case. The songs off of Diamond Rings first studio album “Special Affections” are brilliant. They are naive, sonically experimental and charmingly amateurish. This may sound like a discredit, but the lack of production and refrain from high quality studio equipment distinguishes O’Regan’s styles from countless other pop acts. The music is direct and sincere. The lyrics are complicated but relatable. If anything these songs provide a great reference of where O’Regan is coming from and how he has progressed and also offer great variation for the set.