The new one from Madi Diaz combines the confessional tone of the singer-songwriter genre with the fire of indie. History of a Feeling, out this Friday via ANTI-, feels familiar in spots, but there's plenty here that elevates this above your expectations going in.
Working with co-producer Andrew Sarlo (Big Thief), Madi Diaz journeys through muted rage on "Rage", and more obvious expressions of the same on "Think of Me", this album's Joni-meets-Alanis highlight. On the whole, things here are varied enough that the confessional tone never seems precious. The arrangements can be sparse, but Diaz imbues even the quiet bits with a real sense of anger, or resentment being barely contained. While some of the cuts here recall Shawn Colvin, the chunky "Nervous" and the catchy "Woman in My Heart" are distinctive and fresh. I enjoyed the whole record, but I really wished more of it had sounded as punchy as these numbers.
History of a Feeling is out this Friday via ANTI-.
More details on Madi Diaz via the official website.
[Photo: Natalie Osborne]