Imaginary Volcano

The Diminisher’s sound has always been dirty and organic, but this first “solo” record shows a further development of the organic side. Although he embraces electronics - samplers and keyboards are prevalent in his music - his sound is unmistakably living, with an almost goofy (if somewhat dark) way of carrying itself that is peculiar only to him. You feel rather than hear when he and the experimental rock monsters in his rhythm section transform a mechanical groove somehow into flesh and bone.

Some of the instruments on Imaginary Volcano have rarely been used on a rock record to this advantage. In exchange for tuning the peculiar instrument the Diminisher was able to convince a church to let him record using their harpsichord late into the night after the parishioners had gone home. Listening to the record, you could almost believe the church’s harpsichord player had merely gone mad. Violin, viola, cello: a trio of expertly played strings arranged by The Diminisher overlays a harpsichord drone in the opening bars of “Brooklyn’s Sinking,” lending brave contrast to the rock heavy contraption that is Dylan Ryan on drums and Griffin Rodriguez on bass.