With all of the glitchy electronica, overdosed distortion, and spastic dance around, the indie world needs to chill every once in a while. Lavender Diamond provides that opportunity with their debut album, Imagine Our Love. Cheerful folk and wispy anthems abound throughout the album, led by singer Becky Stark. Her wild-eyed, country girl vocals combine with the pastoral soft-rock for a wholesome, pleasant break from the madness.
Light acoustica and lilting, countrified showtunes come plentifully, and surprisingly, from this LA-based quartet. Throughout Imagine Our Love, rose garden-esque delicacy and kind-hearted gentility keep a lid of modesty on each song. On "Garden Rose", Stark sings a lullaby over alluring violins and rocking-chair strumming. "Oh No" is a sorrowful cry for help set to a lightly shaking, stomping piano beat. "Side of the Lord" is a bouncing, churchy acoustic track where Stark contemplates a "world that never ends." The album has an essentially rural feel, despite being born in Los Angeles.
Imagine Our Love isn't just folk, and it's not really gospel, so it feels like something more genuine than the ever more elaborate albums being released. It borrows well from several non-rock directions for its smooth acoustic sound. It's a nice place to turn to rest while the indie world tries to wear itself out.
