Super Group For Our Times: 5 Billion In Diamonds – “Travelling”
5 Billion In Diamonds
“Travelling”
5 Billion In Diamonds
What a great band with a tremendous lead off single. No surprise, 5 Billion In Diamonds remind me of Garbage. As their bio says:
The transatlantic musical alliance of Garbage drummer and legendary American Producer Butch Vig (Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins), UK DJ James Grillo and UK producer Andy Jenks, 5 Billion In Diamonds self-titled debut album, is out now on 100% Records.
Recorded in Vig’s Grunge is Dead Studio in LA and Jenks’ Christchurch Studios in Bristol, Vig said “James would bring in these obscure albums and play something for us, we would get jazzed by the music and try and channel that inspiration into a new song idea”.
With a longstanding bond over cult film soundtracks from the 60s and 70s Butch, Andy and James formed the band following a discussion on how the perfect soundtrack album would sound. Recruiting guitarist Alex Lee (Goldfrapp, Strangelove and Suede), the magnificent rhythm section including bass player Sean Cook and drummer Damon Reece (Spiritualized, Massive Attack and Elizabeth Fraser) and the gorgeous vocals of Bristolian chanteuse Helen White (Alpha) Sandra Dedrick (from The Free Design) and David Schelzel (The Ocean Blue) in the process.
To complete the line-up Ebbot Lundberg of renowned Swedish rock group The Soundtrack Of Our Lives came on board after Butch and James talked their way into the band’s dressing room. “We walked up to Ebbot and said “Hey we’re in a band, would you like to sing on a couple songs we’re working on?” Ebbot said “Yah!” and a few weeks later we flew him down to Bristol”.
It is no wonder I love this band. You have Garbage, The Ocean Blue, Suede, Massive Attack, Alpha, some of my very favorite bands all rolled into one. And let me tell you, 5 Billion In Diamonds does not disappointed. This is the type of music of been looking for since Garbage collapsed. This is the best. Don’t take my word for it: listen for yourself.
