L.A.-based electronic duo Rainbow Arabia's debut album Boys and Diamonds has been out for a few weeks now, but only now made it to a blogpost. In the previous years the band released two EP's (The Basta and Kabukimono) and toured with bands like Gang Gang Dance, Mogwai and Hecuba setting quite the name for themselves. Boys and Diamonds in part redeems expectations. The band's trademark sound is something called fourth world pop, a mix of modern producing and various styles of music from around the globe, with an emphasis on Africa an Asia. World music, to use one of those terrible container concept. Terrible, because Rainbow Arabia offers more than just a collage of cheap, tropical beats. One of their key-words seems to be dosage. The band carefully balances exotic influences with electronic arrangements. Their music is never in-your-face Africa-inspired, but you still instantly can still hear what they're getting at. Their beats are subtle and slick, the African, Indian and Carribean influences are never screaming for attention. And at the same time that's also the issue with this record. Although commendable in its effort to create something authentic, the album rarely touches on the exuberance and feeling of lushness of say an Animal Collective product. In fact, one reason that this review stayed on the shelf for so long is that I had a hard time deciding what I thought of this album. It's never bad, but at the same time it rarely leaves an imprint. And even with the songs being so layered musically and rich in construction and influences, I had the hardest time finding something relevant to say about them. Boys and Diamonds is a pleasant record, but for the most part it contains background music. Good background music, but it's still just too easy to tune out while listening to it.
1. Boys And Diamonds
2. Without You
3. Nothin' Gonna Be Undone
4. Blind
5. Papai
6. Jungle Bear
7. Hai
8. Mechanical
9. This Life Is Practice
10. Sayer
11. Sequenced
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