ALBUM REVIEW: Swagger & Stroll Down The Rabbit Hole – Diablo Swing Orchestra
Ambition is a hell of a drug. Pushing people to chase the high of achievement. Feeling the warm, fuzzy sense of purpose push them further, DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA bring us their most ambitious effort to date with the release of Swagger & Stroll Down The Rabbit Hole on November 2nd.
The follow up to 2017’s Pacifisticuffs, the Swedish octet serve their heady concoction of jazz, classical, and progressive elements across 13 tracks. For this record, DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA recruited a staggering 19 guest musicians. As a result, Swagger & Stroll Down The Rabbit Hole is a cornucopia of noise and an aural acid trip for the ages.
Genre bending is in this band’s DNA. Whether it be the blend of new wave and classical which breeds wonder in Sightseeing In The Apocalypse, or smashing progressive rock into jazz movements for Speed Dating An Arsonist, there is something here for every seeker of the oddity. Recent single War Painted Valentine whisks us down the metaphorical rabbit hole into a strange new world. The tribal imagery painted by the drums of war become coloured by theatrical big brass. As Daniel Håkansson and Kristin Evegård trade punchy vocals, this is an exercise in the ostentatious. While these two tribes go to war, we can’t help but imagine these clans clad in circus clothes as they collide.
“Follow me into my theatre of lunacy” coaxes Malign Monologues. Though dreamy and hypnotising in tone, a sinister edge slits through the indoctrination. It’s this laser focused attention to detail within their world building which makes DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA’s work so intoxicating. Jig Of The Century carries us away on the ocean’s tide. As we set sail, we’re welcomed into the ship’s crew with an Irish folk song. Singing with this band of brothers, our attention is taken away from the grind of metal riffs and talk of “a world in despair”.
Perhaps the biggest show boat of all comes with Celebremos Lo Inevitable. Translated to “Let’s Celebrate The Inevitable”, this song is the band’s first to be entirely in Spanish. Lending itself over to the romance of an acoustic guitar and subtle brass section, the song whisks us off into the night. As we melt into the song’s chilled and pleasant vibes, a delicious meld of metal guitars and imposing strings adds some spice and keeps us on our toes. This brand of ludicrous wonder continues into Snake Oil Baptism. The warm buzz of gospel seeps into huge brass sections. A guitar riff rumbles beneath the vocal harmonies, a wonderful indicator that deception is not far behind. This auditory representation of deceit, especially when a harsh bassline pulls at the mask of the snake oil vendor makes this song simply sublime.
The wonderful thing about DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA is their ability to create lusciously vast new worlds. Yet, this can also be their downfall. The 13-track runtime will no doubt sate their fans’ desire for new material, but our imaginative stamina is well and truly put to the test. Swagger & Stroll Down The Rabbit Hole certainly lives up to its name. This ode to the baffling would do Tim Burton proud as the delightfully mad circus rolls into town.
Rating: 7/10
Swagger & Stroll Down The Rabbit Hole is out now via Candlelight/Spinefarm Records.
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