3.5/5 stars
Dick Diver return with their third album, entitled Melbourne, Florida – an interesting title from an act so deeply entrenched in the Melbourne music scene. They’ve got members of UV Race and Total Control, a name synonymous with triple j airplay, and a cult following after the success of their last album, Calendar Days.
Melbourne, Florida serves to cement Dick Diver as one of the most compelling indie acts in the country, because calling them a ‘dolewave’ band is not only doing the band a disservice, it’s a crime against your ears. They borrow influences from the mid-’80s US college radio scene, but with a real focus on pop sensibilities, not unlike The Go-Betweens or Twerps.
This album steps up from previous efforts, with a larger emphasis placed on instrumentation. There’s subtle synth work on ‘Year In Pictures’, and horns follow on ‘Leftovers’. It shows an expansion and a continued effort to create a more engaging product. Only the track ‘Beat Me Up (Talk To A Counsellor)’ feels like a misstep – the change in vocals is stark and the melody often stumbles.
On balance, though, Melbourne, Florida is another great set of songs from one of Melbourne’s strongest acts.
