Ornithology

Description

With Ornithology, The Diasonics make a return that is as bold as it is fascinating, extending the path begun with their acclaimed debut album Origin of Forms (2022). This second release on Record Kicks continues the exploration of their signature sound: cinematic funk with Eastern accents, infused with analog soul and a rare instrumental hip-hop sensibility. Recorded at Studio 23 — their DIY hideout set up in an old Soviet factory — Ornithology is a dense, textured record, built around an unexpected guiding thread: birds. Inspired by the real cries of the birds flying over their studio, but also by local place names, railway soundscapes, and the poetry of movement, the album’s tracks bear titles such as "Mockingbird", "Guineafowl" or "Chickadee". A tribute to flight, space, freedom — as much as a musical manifesto. On the sound side, the band pushes their experiments even further: vintage synthesizers, stripped-down grooves, and subtle textural interplay intertwine with Diana Greb’s airy voice, integrated as a full-fledged instrument. The result: an album that floats between earth and sky, rooted in the funk grooves of the 70s but open to more abstract, sometimes almost mystical dimensions. With Ornithology, The Diasonics confirm their status as an essential reference on the modern instrumental funk scene — both grounded and visionary.