Celebrated Australian musician Mick Harvey returns with his second enthralling ‘solo’ album, Two Of Diamonds.
Two Of Diamonds, mostly recorded at Harvey’s Grace Lane studio and Atlantis Studios, Melbourne, features an eclectic collection of songs which Harvey has chosen to interoperate in his own distinctive and emotive style. Some are original Harvey compositions (the dream-like ‘Blue Arrows’ and the graceful ‘Little Star’), and, as with ‘One Man’s Treasure’ these are combined with more obscure classics, sometimes stemming from the pens of well known enigmatic songwriters. What once again unites this timeless material is Mick Harvey’s deeply personal connection with every song included on Two Of Diamonds.
The recorded interpretive work of Nina Simone and Johnny Cash, two of Mick Harvey’s favourite artists, still inspire him to grasp the essence of his elected material and make it his own. “With the first album, I thought I’d see how comfortable it felt and if I liked what was going on,” Harvey reflects. “I enjoyed it and the live shows have become really strong over time. I didn’t want ‘One Man’s Treasure’ to be a one off. I thought that if I did one record, I’d do a few. To make it something I was going to be doing for a while, for five years or so, to be something I’d follow through with and make substantial. The thing with any undertaking like this is that you grow into it. With the first album I was feeling my way somewhat and now I’m feeling more comfortable in this role. With the songs I’m just trying to find a point of view in there to convey ideas and feelings…. elemental stuff.”