all sorts of people. you probably know some of them.
影響
alfred jarry, bonzo dog band, kevin ayers, shangri-las, louis prima, ray collins, english psych-pop, most strange music, syd barret, yma sumac, powell&pressburger.
emerged from a long psychedelic incarceration, largely intact, some 12 yrs ago. herb is always concerned that he may fall back into it at any time, on the other hand, he's rather looking forward to it. the main remaining legacy of this confusing period in his life is his chronic inability to remember his own (or anybody else's) lyrics. he loves glamour,alcohol & pataphysics. herb has released one cd ,"may i light your cigarette?" , on the abduction label.
review of "mr lonely/in moons new lull" digital single.diogenes music .
"this beautifully sad version of mr. lonely was recorded by herb diamante & sun city girls for harmony korine's film of the same name.the silky, haunting textures of the song were captured at randall dunn's studio in seattle with the help of sun city girls alan & richard bishop, plus eyvind kang & jessika kenney.
the track was originally recorded by bobby vinton in 1964, & while herb's version quirkily captures the song's camp, knowing self-pity, the slower tempo & general mood of this version, along with the sumptuous production, somehow amplify both the sense of ironic maudlin drunkeness & the genuine "check my emotional bruises & i'm still just about in one piece" feel of the whole episode. no doubt the string section, piano & backing choir push the feeling at both extremes too.
herb diamante, occasional member of leeds' seminal vibracathedral orchestra & the underground's favourite lysergically-altered chanteur, comes on like the locked away offspring of scott walker & marc almond, & the over-used phrase "lynchian" is also being bandied about to describe this alt-torch musical melodrama.
somehow this track ended up getting omitted from korine's film, though herb & the bishops had hoped it would be used for the film's closing credits. maybe it's just too close to the bone.
the b-side of this single sees herb team up with diatric puds, a band descended from the legendary caroliner, & also featuring mark gergis(porest, sublime frequencies). "in moon's new lull" is an altogether more altered, more devious affair, with a feel akin to being crooned to by someone you think may have just spiked your drink. the beat-box bossa nova, the low-register keys, & the lost souls providing backing vocals all conjure an image of a beckoning herb draped seductively across a headstone, luring you towards something you probably shouldn't do but can't resist."
Hey Herb!!!! Just wanted to tell you, I'm writing an alien abduction story for College. I popped in your CD to get some inspiration. IT'S WORKING LIKE A CHARM!!!! Just wanted to let ya know. Hope all is well in your part of the galaxy. In All Galactic Sincerity, Erich
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lonely sea-breskers, And sitting by desolate streams; Word-losers and world-forsakers, On whom pale moon gleams: Yet we are the movers and shakers Of the world for ever, it seems.
Hello, dear Herb!!! Sorry you won't make it out Seattle Way this time, but I'm sure our paths will cross again, soon... meanwhile, heartful greets from Catania, Sicily!!!! big kiss Amy
