OCEAN ALLEY SHARE SPICY TAKE ON ISO-COOKING THEIR THIRD ALBUM LONELY DIAMOND IS OUT FRIDAY + TRIPLE J FEATURE ALBUM THIS WEEK

From its sprawling opening notes, album opener ‘Dahlia’ mystically sets the scene with an intergalactic introduction, immediately signifying elements of exploration and ‘the unknown’. The introspective title-track ‘Lonely Diamond’ engulfs the listener in a wave of melancholy before finding purpose with warmth and tenderness, while the bright and dreamy ‘Up In There’ creates an uplifting sense of hopefulness and reassurance that everything will be okay. As the record continues, the expansive soundscape grows and conquers, ‘Puesta de Sol’ and ‘Luna’ transporting the listener to the middle of a dusty stand-off in a state of isolation and emptiness.

Produced by long-time collaborator Callum Howell at the idyllic Grove Studios (built by INXS’ Garry Gary Beers), Lonely Diamond follows the success of Ocean Alley’s acclaimed second full-length LP Chiaroscuro. With its infectious blend of psychedelic surf-rock, the record propelled the band into national prominence and saw them sell 25,000 tickets over 15 sold out shows that year in Australia alone – culminating with their ARIA nominated, double platinum-selling single ‘Confidence’ taking out #1 in triple j’s Hottest 100 of 2018. Their breakthrough year was backed-up with 30 sold out shows around the world in 2019, plus major festival appearances at Reading & Leeds Festival (UK), Splendour In The Grass (AUS), Sziget (HU), BottleRock (US) and more, with the band amassing more than 260 million streams to date.