How do you write about romance in a new way? Madi Diaz finds herself facing the challenge in Weird Faith, journal of her relationships, with the Other, with herself, with the invisible. Review.
WEIRD FAITH – MADI DIAZ
Guitar forward, the record opens with the question: What the fuck do you want? Because falling in love is anxious and heavy. Yet, she’s ready to fall, but before that, Madi Diaz ensures that, if she falls out, it’ll hurt as much for her as for the Other with Same Risk. It’s a different and refreshing take on love songs the artist chooses here. And on the rest of the flow too. The pop-rock sound of the incredible guitarist pushes forward with the electric and honest Everything Almost. At the centre of this journal is the exploration of her own heart. On Girlfriend, the refined and wide production lets in a swirl of questions: fear, jealousy, revelations, and more.
When she hurts the Other, she suffers (Hurting You), when she speaks with her darker side, she holds her breath (Get To Know Me). On Kiss The Wall, the depth of the bass is surprising and contrasts with the optimism the lyrics contain. This contrast finds its negative with the lightness of the broken heart she bears on Don’t Do Me Good. Smartly written, all the pieces are naturally connecting, in the guitar or piano, but mainly in Madi Diaz’s vocals, a powerful and textured whisper. That texture stays on the fascinating spiritual journey she goes through on God Person, and later on Weird Faith. Here, it’s her relationship with the invisible that she brings forward with both aerial and terrestrial tones in the tracks.
Back to the Other’s heart, Madi Diaz mentions the end of the story. She can’t bring herself to close it, on For Months Now. It’s melancholic, sure, but also cold, brutal poetry. In my favourites, I put KFM where Diaz changes the rules of the teenage game, reframing them so that all choices go to only one soul, unceremoniously. It’s on the pop side of the record, the song really caught my eye with its catchy chorus. After the grand finale of Obsessive Thoughts, bright and epic with its warm guitars and impressive vocals, Madi Diaz closes Weird Faith. Contemplative on many aspects, epic and capricious too, it’s not your typical romantic record. And it’s to play on repeat.
