By Supergrass, 2008

Recorded in Berlin's legendary Hansa studios over a 3 week period with producer Nick Launay (Arcade Fire, Nick Cave, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) Diamond Hoo Ha captures the energy and enthusiasm of a band firing on all cylinders, none more evident than on opening track Diamond Hoo Ha Man (released as a limited edition 7" in January and achieving single of the week status in NME and The Fly). To quote one review, "the beefy, stomporific riffs are back on board". A notable departure from 2005's more pastoral and reflective (yet still critically acclaimed) Road To Rouen, Diamond Hoo Ha features a handful of rocking tracks debuted last summer when Supergrass were hand-picked as main support for the Arctic Monkeys at their Old Trafford shows.

Tracks such as Rough Knuckles and future singles Bad Blood and Rebel In You are welcome additions to the band's already impressive cannon of classic songs like Caught By the Fuzz, Richard III, Moving and Pumping On Your Stereo. 13 years into their career and with 5 albums and a Best Of already under their belts, Gaz, Danny, Mick and Rob are sounding fresher than ever. Since finishing the album the band have played 2 Christmas homecoming shows at Oxford Town Hall, as well as the XFM Winter Wonderland show at Brixton Academy with Bloc Party.

Not to mention a series of "hush hush" club dates from Gaz and Danny under the not-so-secret identity of the Diamond Hoo Ha Men. EMI. 2008.Oxford's Supergrass have relaxed into a comfortable sort of middle age, the youthful rush of their early albums replaced by a muscular, if somewhat conservative breed of rock'n'roll.

Diamond Hoo Ha, however, shows their early mischief hasn't entirely deserted them. The opening "Diamond Hoo Ha Man" surfs out on a distinctly White Stripes riff, Danny Goffey's drums beating out a distinctly Meg-like pulse; Gaz Coombes' lyrics, meanwhile, rock out with tongue firmly planted in cheek: "When the sun goes down, I just can't resist… bite me!" Supergrass' sixth album continues along such playful lines: "Bad Blood" melds swooning melodies and gloomy lyrics ("Milk and honey!/Won't heal my heartache") to lolloping, upbeat glam riffs, "Rough Knuckles" gets surprisingly funky with some great keyboard work from fourth member Rob Coombes, and the hilarious "Whiskey & Green Tea" is a gonzoid rock number peppered with horns and lyrics about "being chased by Chinese dragons". The heartfelt "Ghost of a Friend", meanwhile, is a Dylan-tinged number that mourns the loss of an old acquaintance to the "vultures, peacocks and hounds"--a veiled diss at celebrity culture?--and throws some grand shapes towards the close.

--Louis Pattison

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