LTTP: Deep Sea Diver - Secrets

I've decided to dedicate time/updates on my blog to focus on albums I've been missing out on (through no fault of my own, of course). So now, I am able to use my fancy internet lingo skills to craft 'LTTP' (or 'Late To The Party') posts. Now that that's out of the way, which album am I just discovering now?

Well, this band is from Seattle (no, it's not Soundgarden) and they just released their full-length, sophomore LP in February of this year. That's right, it's Deep Sea Diver, and they have assembled quite a collection of tunes on an album they call Secrets. So, let's dive in, shall we? Get it?! Dive in?

Secrets is the second LP from Deep Sea Diver. It comes after a couple of EPs from the band, while their full-length debut, History Speaks, released back in 2012.

The first thing you'll notice about Secrets is that it's a hell of a lot of fun to listen to. I'm not entirely sure if this was their intention or not (probably was), but it's an intoxicating sound. It's confident, pleasant, and damn, it has some balls to it! Just take a listen to the opening track, Notice Me, and you will hear a wailing guitar that absolutely soars. Lead singer and guitarist Jessica Dobson makes sure you know that she is going to make an impression on this recording. This isn't just some fuzzy guitar to emphasize select parts of a track. This is a blazing sound that assaults you when you least expect it, and I adore it. As a guitarist, I truly appreciate this kind of sound, as it can be a bit rare to have a tone that grabs you and pulls you in with both delicate and ferocious textures. There's just no substitute for the feelings you can get from music like this.

When I say Secrets is a confident release, it's because every instrument is pronounced and has depth. It's not just the lively production either. The combination of Dobson's huge guitar sounds/vocals, Mansen's thumping drums, Gue's prominent bass, and Jackson's decorative guitar/synths brings a marriage of layers that demand your attention. What more could you ask for?

I love it when an album kicks ass and feels like a natural extension of the artists who have created it. I know that sounds a bit odd as an album is always by those who've created it. But the result is not always guaranteed to represent the necessary sincerity that it should. Luckily, Secrets doesn't suffer from that kind of crisis, and it is all the better for it.

Don't forget to support the band if you like them! Their Bandcamp site: http://thedeepseadiver.bandcamp.com/album/secrets-2

Also, check out this video of the band playing some of their Secrets material live at KEXP: