reviews
The Weekend Australian Sept, 2015 CD Review [ROOTS] - The Other Side of the Girl, Diana May Clark 3 &1/2 stars
"As the title may suggest, Diana May Clark, who’s best known for her prowess as a chic bossa nova crooner, turns the other cheek and displays a different side of her oeuvre — one that may surprise her admirers.
On The Other Side of the Girl the Melburnian diva is backed by, among others, string bender extraordinaire Doug de Vries and multi-instrumentalist and producer Greg Arnold of Things Of Stone & Wood fame, on an album of self-composed singalong songs that mixes Beatlesque pop with Musica Popular Brasileira flair and elements of other genres.
De Vries, Australia’s premier practitioner of acoustic seven-string Brazilian-style guitar, reveals another side of his playing, unleashing screaming electric solos on several tracks — most aptly in the funky Fluorescent — and adding twangy tremolo to Tango Noir.
Clark’s sensuality and sassiness drips from the retro rocker In Love with Love and the funky Blueprint, which respectively open with suggestive lines: “stealing the sweetest bite of the stone fruit’s juicy skin / raspberry gin bubbles and bounces off my chin” and “I like your blueprint and all its glitches / such a sweet, sleek design, so catchy it itches”. Batucada Bonde has reggae/ska underpinning a la Carlinhos Brown.
Mama Africa gets a quirky makeover courtesy of de Vries’s banjo, while that song’s Brazilian composer-singer, Chico Cesar, contributes a groovy vocal improvisation to Clark and partner’s parting song, Hang On.
Musically, rhythmically and lyrically, The Other Side of the Girl offers polished pastiche." Tony Hillier
“An amazing sounding record, where each and every song is an event! Musically, lyrically and rhythmically brilliant and topped off with a voice of sheer delight to the ear.” Charles Jenkins
“From the get go, Diana May Clark’s The Other Side of the Girl makes you wanna undulate! Not nod your head, not tap your toes nor click your fingers - you wanna move your hips... Later, you can lie on your back staring at the sky and let the sublime blend of voice and music take you slipping through time like sunshine through tree tops. You’ll be needing a rest after all that dance floor action.” Pat Monaghan (Basement Disks)
ALBUM REVIEW June 2015 William Hancock
“Couldn't let this one go past. A fusion of so many different genres. Diana May Clark shows the beauty of the many musics.”
Diana May Clark – The Other Side Of The Girl - Many Facets of International Style for Aussie Songstress.
"Diana May Clark has unleashed a singularly undefinable album in terms of genre. With influences of rock, country, latin and world music all wrapped up in a pop style package this is an album that will appeal to the masses. Produced by Greg Arnold (now based internationally) from Things of Stone and Wood and virtuoso guitar by Diana May’s husband and collaborator Doug de Vries, this songstress winds her way through an internationally flavoured album including tracks titled Mama Africa, Vanilla vs. Barcelona, Batucada Bonde and Tango Noir. With a strong sense of self, a voice that is as adaptable as it is powerful and a passion that exudes from her very soul, the album smacks of a writer and musician that is invested in the core of the music." Beatopia Review Link
The Other Side of the Girl -Diana May Clark's release from November 2014 is her first solo full length album.
If I told you that this was a great pop album there’s a chance you could overlook it. Do so to your own loss, this is a fine pop album bubbling along with terrific songs that you can bop along to.
With it’s easy sing along lyrics and sixties groove overtones the whole album is a delight to listen to and just the thing when you are in need of an aural pick me up. An album worthy of a wider audience.
If this is a indication of her work then I may have to examine her earlier works." Favourite Track:- In Love with love, followed by Batacuda Bonde although Blueprint offers a different style for comparison. Voice FM Review Link
Sunny Daze
"Acclaimed performer of Brazilian inspired world music, Diana May Clark, has made a successful genre move to delightful psychedelic tinged 60’s retro pop, with the release of her stunning new EP, Sunny Daze. Launched at Bella Union at the Melbourne Trades Hall on the 6th June, the EP is accompanied by an energetic and pleasure filled film clip which saw its first public airing on a three and a half metre screen at the EP’s launch. Now available for everyone’s viewing pleasure on YouTube, the Sunny Daze film clip is perhaps a nod to the Beatles’ 1969 rooftop concert on the Apple building. Although sharing the hook-laden guitar of the Beatles, Diana May Clark’s film clip outshines the Liverpudlian pop stars’ classic free public performance with the infectious joyfulness of the splendidly clad band and dancing audience. This is not the performance of a jaded band on the point of disintegration, but rather a stellar new performer to the 60’s pop genre and her talented and contagiously happy band." Vivien Fleming FULL ARTICLE Here
“When you can sing in Portuguese, count Nina Simone and KD Lang as influences, and are backed by Doug de Vries on guitar it’s hard to go wrong. It also helps that Diana Clark has an amazing voice.”
The AGE, [Melbourne].
“De Vries and Clark feel the music of Brazil down to their bones. His guitar is full of romance and her voice is so intimate it could make you blush. Australia may be halfway around the world from Brazil but you'd never know it from listening to their CDs“
Cadence Magazine [USA].
"…Buoyed by gently vibrant Afro-Brazilian rhythms, Clark’s warm vocals can soften the melancholy of a yearning lyric, or coax the vibrant rhythms around her into a dance of celebration.”
Jessica Nicholas, The AGE
"Singing in Portuguese, Diana's melifluous voice perfectly compliments de Vries' virtuosity on the 7 string guitar. Marrying old and new sounds, they manage to remain faithful to the 'musica brasileira' genre while retaining a strong Australian sensibility."
Lily Bragg, The AGE [Melbourne].
Melbourne Fringe Festival Review
Diana May Clark and the Sunny Set:
"Oscillation between sensual, moving and playful proved intoxicating. A brewed concoction of power and sophistication, this show had the audience beguiled in sway to the beat".
Natali Lambevska (SYN)
Fringe show Review link (& audience responses)
"A home grown international talent. We don't even know what we've got here in Melbourne!"
"Fatastic show, very uplifting. Really, really enjoyed it and would certainly recommend it."
Gig Review:
The Diana Clark Trio
Tanks Art Centre June, 2011:
"The Diana Clark Trio does not play the usual traditional type of jazz....Described by one musician as "on the periphery of jazz", this trio plays a contemporary Latin Jazz, embracing the samba, bossa nova and choro....Diana Clark, a Melbournian singer-songwriter has a very soothing voice, and her songs in Portuguese were a favourite with the audiences as was the way she finished her songs with some drama and panache.
Doug de Vries (guitar) and Stephen Grant (accordion) were the dashing virtuosos who accompanied Ms Clark and who at times took centre-stage with their brilliant musicianship...They have a sound and stylings you could listen to for hours. The Diana Clark Trio's music combines world music and Brazilian sounds with a generous helping of jazz. The perfect band to listen to at the end of a rough week with which to relax and unwind." Denise Carter @ The Cairns Post