The Diasonics bring Moscow funk from another dimension
The story of The Diasonics reads like a patchwork stitched together from Moscow’s underground music scene. It’s one of those tales where everyone seems to have already crossed paths before the band was even a band—playing punk shows in sweaty basements, jamming reggae rhythms in half-lit bars, skanking through ska projects that came and went. Out of all that noise and color, a strange and cinematic funk started bubbling under the surface.
The idea had been there for years: what if we made a funk outfit? Not just any funk though—something instrumental, something cinematic. The kind of sound that feels like it belongs in a lost 70s thriller soundtrack. The kind of funk that Moscow didn’t know it needed yet. But for the longest time, nobody cared. The city wasn’t ready. So the players bided their time, cutting their teeth in live sets, collecting scars in the studio, quietly honing their craft.
The mastermind who finally pulled it all together was bassist Maksim Brusov. He linked up with drummer Anton Moskvin and organ wizard Kamil Gazizov, and suddenly the pulse was alive. But funk is nothing without that guitar chop, so an old comrade from the ska-reggae days called Daniil Lutsenko joined shortly after. Alexander Shingaling rounded out the band on drums and Diana Greb sometimes joins the mix to add a layer of vocals.
Next month, The Diasonics are set to release a new album entitled Ornithology — a soulful bird-themed album of instrumental groove. The latest single off to be teased off the upcoming album “Larks” is a good example of their trademark eastern-infused cinematic funk with evocative melodies and subtle storytelling.
“’Larks’ is the name of a railway station and a town in the suburbs of Moscow,” explains Maksim when talking about the new single. “Our vocalist, Diana Greb, lives there, and the main melody of the track was composed early one morning at her home, so the title came naturally to us. By the way, this was the first track with a “bird” theme, which shaped the concept of the new album.”
For those who like the type of sound that bands like Surprise Chef, Menahan Street Band, Khruangbin, and El Michaels Affair are putting, you will like The Diasonics.
Have a listen to the new single “Larks” below, and keep an ear out for their upcoming album Ornithology, which is set to be released on October 3 via Record Kicks.
The Diasonics – Larks
The Diasonics – Oriole
