The Diving Bell

Led by Andy Davenhall and Christian Fulghum (who co-founded Sister Psychic), they now make up the four piece band THE DIVING BELL. Hailing from Seattle, Washington, this is both the first release from Fin Records and the Diving Bell.
This is our first encounter with both of these names. Fin Records is still a fairly new label also based in Seattle, releasing other material from the likes of David Hahn and Whiting Tennis. Perhaps we’ll have more on those names later, but for now, the Diving Bell are in the process of releasing a set of 7? singles which will lead up to their debut full length coming later this year. The second single of their set is set to be released this summer, while the one we have here is the first.

“Shooting Star, Falling” quickly sets the tone for the Diving Bell name, with the hook of the song coming through in the delayed guitars as the steady rhythm pulses underneath. Big and lush sounds are warmed by cosmic, otherworldly vibes which seem to be floating high up in the clouds, masked by a mysterious yet hopeful layer of warmth. Passionately sung lyrics sit atop gorgeous productions and the hope of good things to come, with vocals that somehow seem obviously familiar and matured.

On the flip side you’re met with a much more darkened pop number in regards to the first, which could almost sound like two different bands if you didn’t know any better. Still as powerful, “Louisiana Highway” is just as rich and engulfing as you should expect it to be. Davenhalls lyrics paint provoking scenarios of grossness, following an old and smelly homeless man who may or may not be schizophrenic. The thick and murky sounds will slowly reel you in until there’s no escaping, broadened by reverberating bass lines and a precariously glowing organ which dominates the majority of the track. Now if that’s got you thinking, you better check out both of these tracks below and snag that jawn before it’s too late.

- Styrofoam Drone blog

This single just in from a new label, (and by new this time I mean new to everyone) Fin Records out of Seattle, WA. A mere 4 months old, checking out the pics of the HQ, they hit the ground running. I'm assuming that's it's kind of Fin at the end of an Italian new wave subtitled movie, except this single marks the beginning of "The End".
It looks like they started off doing everything right, clear vinyl, weird cardstocks, exotic printing, even a heavyweight color paper sleeve? Money seems to be no object to these guys, and it's nice to see the lowly format get the royal treatment like this.
The Diving Bell (and the label itself) consists of guitars and vocals from Andy and Christian of Sister Psychic, who after checking out youtube, I do remember this Velvet Dog track from probably 120 minutes. They're joined by a couple different rotating members on the bass and drums on this single.

The A-Side, "Shooting Star, Falling" was written by Christian, his 13 year old daughter Hana and Christopher Fulghum from Pansy Division. The main melody is based around a heavy tremolo electric guitar melody, the kind where you have to get that delay just right to sync up just right with the entire rhythm section. It's not a slow one and to get this to match up successfully for the length of the song is one of those engineering feats...or nightmares depending on how you look at it. The heavy percussion is a great balance to this ethereal airy guitar waves. The entire single is sparkling with that roomy super clean sound, capturing all the details of this performance.
At one point it sounds like the organ comes in in the same warm tremolo as the guitar during a refrain section. Christian has a casual vocal delivery that feels a bit like the lyric about a shooting star, falling...it's not some crazy violent, actual event, but a kind of abstract remembering, and indie folk song. Checkout an excerpt of this one from Fin Records facebook page.

The B-Side "Louisiana Highway" is a slow country psyche ballad, kicked off with a lonesome wavery organ melody, joined by an acoustic and heavy reverb electric. The Diving Bell sure is in love with airing out these big sounds, giving the melody room to wander around, the effects becoming as important as the notes. A falling backup vocal "ahh" along with this dreamy tempo and they're back reminiscing about that lazy afternoon sound of "Shooting...".
Lyrically they're down south, of course, and that highway isn't taking any prisoners, the devil is involved and Andy's deep vocals are way on top, reminding me of some of Mark Lannegan's solo album work:
"...buries his thoughts in an alligator (long pause) suitcase"....nice one...

This paper is that heavy stock wavy matte feel with silver embossed ink...pretty damn gorgeous, down to the offset label logo in the center vinyl label, and I even want to keep the press release they printed on heavy tan paper...it's moments like these I can relate to Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, getting caught up in the printing minutiae, the inks and weights.

Get this from Fin records, who are making me jealous.
Limited to 500 hand numbered copies, pressed on Beach Glass colored vinyl. Songs are "Shooting Star, Falling" and "Louisiana Highway." Produced and mixed by Martin Feveyear. Design by Asha Hossain. - 7 Inches Blog

This 2011 Fin Records release was both mixed and produced by Martin Feveyear. The first side with “Shooting Star, Falling” is kind of calm and relaxing, more on the indie rock side.
The other song “Louisiana Highway” sounds like some dark and eerie country western. The two songs are very different but it’s still pretty cool.


- Big Wheel Magazine

Remember Seattle ’90s grunge-era band Sister Psychic, on the Y and Restless labels? Two members whom also played in The Attachments, Andy Davenhall and Christian Fulghum, team up once again for the inaugural release of this Seattle label—a 500-copy launch on beach glass-color vinyl, with two future singles promised. The pair’s latest endeavor takes a slower, dreamier tack, like Mazzy Star sung by a plain-voiced swamp-bluesman, as two cascading guitars encircle one another as kittens chase each other’s tails. Both Davenhall’s cautionary, Elliott Smith-ish here-side, and Fulghum and 13-year-old daughter’s (and fellow-Attachment Christopher Freeman of Pansy Division’s) resigned now-side “Shooting Star, Falling” are nicely quietly dulcet like this. Older rockers often prefer more subtle measures, and The Diving Bell succeeds in this new bent. (finrecords.com) - The Big Takeover