Love of Diagrams / Songs

Andy J Ryan Apr 11, 2023

Love of Diagrams, Spectrum 21 November 2008

I arrived to some tracks quite oxymoronic for a band called Songs, who were playing what could best be described as ‘jams’ or possibly even ‘excursions’ at a stretch. They came as an interesting addition to their more melodic moments where they’re content keeping it clean.

Love of Diagrams, however, kept everything tight and precise. Barely a wasted note was summoned as the Melbourne three-piece were all fringes down, sticks’n’strings up right from the almost prophetic opening lyric of “This may sound a little strange”.

You can’t get by as long as Love of Diagrams have just by peddling the regulation drums/bass/guitar sound.

Right from their early, more instrumental incarnation right through til the launch of their latest 7” single ‘Forever’, the band have provided a unique and evolving take on the traditional ‘trio’. Their songs are enlivened with searing blasts of distorted guitar and squalling feedback, the gamey bass throbs along inspiredly, driven by the whip-sharp drumming of Monika Fikerle causing a disturbance up back. There are certainly no weak links in this triumvirate as each instrument variously surges to the forefront, craning for attention before ceding to the background to regroup for the next attack. The twin vocals elevate the songs even further; contrasting the more hypnotically urgent tones of bass player Antonia Sellbach with the more melody tinged-ones of guitarist Luke Horton. Terrific.