Diamond Rainbows is the fifth album from the Julie July Band and their fourth album of original material. Their first, back in 2018, was a tribute to the late Sandy Denny, representing a foundational plank of their live show. Although Denny herself drew on a much wider range of influences than the folk rock label usually given to her would imply, with each successive release the Julie July Band have been on a mission to broaden the palette of musical textures they draw from. The results have been consistently pleasing and Diamond Rainbows is no exception.
The joyfully optimistic ‘Sunny Day’ with its jaunty fiddle playing is a classic slice of English folk rock while opening track ‘Riverside’ has that lush West Coast feel from the golden age of introspective singer-songwriter albums. The Eagles-ish ‘Just a Little’ again picks up that West Coast vibe. Meanwhile, ‘Medicine Man’ with its energetic rhythms coupled with gorgeous vocal harmonies put me in mind of songs like Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’. Elsewhere on the album there’s some more ethereal prog-rock influences and even a touch of gypsy jazz.
In short, while the songs exude freshness and vibrancy, the influences are pleasingly familiar, without ever straying into the formulaic.
As the Julie July Band themselves put it: “Diamond Rainbows celebrates the excitement of hearing new songs for the very first time. Every classic song was once unknown. This collection is an invitation to rediscover that sense of musical discovery.”
Throw in some top-notch musicianship from seasoned players, crystal clear vocals, beautiful harmonies and great song-writing and you’ve got the perfect summer album. Diamond Rainbows is highly recommended.
Released: 20th June 2026 https://www.juliejuly.co.uk/
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Folk-rock: album review – Julie July Band ‘Lady of the First Light’
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