Rosetta West – Diana (Single Review)

Today’s review will revolve around a returning act on our profile that encapsulates the imagination and intensity that can emerge out of a passion for not only how music sounds, but the impact of music itself. Meet Rosetta West, an eclectic and fluid blues-rock band from Illinois. They don’t just deliver any brand of blues rock, but a novel and interesting form that includes a lot of different intersecting genres, such as psychedelia and world folk music.

I have written reviews for them a couple of times on this platform, and every single time I get the chance to immerse myself in their music I am simply blown away. There are a lot of hidden quirks embedded within the framework of their soundscape that you need a refined eye to pick up on- making it where their work is more than just a song or a release. It is an eye into a body of standalone art itself.

Their newest release, titled ‘Diana’, strays away from the formulaic potions of Rosetta West’s typical blues rock fusions and ventures deep into the realm of Middle Eastern music. It is comprised of vocals, acoustic guitar, strings as well as sparse percussion, attempting to achieve a grandiose, ambient effect. The single is described as Rosetta West’s most ambitious effort yet, definitely enticing the listener to take a gander at it.

It is clear from the start of the track the creative intent of the song itself. It is anticipatory, with a distant folk flair to it before it infuses the Hijaz scale reminiscent of music from the Middle East. It does have a slightly whimsical twang to the way the guitar sounds, but I think it helps keep the song unique and on-brand with Rosetta West’s style instead of completely copying someone else’s style. The strings in the background help to elevate the serious yet yearning feel of the song, nicely caressing the top melodic notes and giving it an emotional depth.

The minimal percussive elements do lend the song an aspect of thematic cultural authenticity, while also acting as a catalyst of the initial anticipatory motif of the song. The lead vocalist’s voice, in his signature ‘wise traveler’ timbre, echoes the notes of the melody of the guitar with a croon, giving the metallic elements of the song an earnest flair. I really adore the detail when it comes to the composition of the song: the scales used and the way the musical elements complement each other is really a delicate act in of itself, and Rosetta West executes it perfectly. There is also an underlying ‘broodiness’ to the tone of the song, staying in line with the theme of desert rock- all while paying homage to the goddess Diana.

Honestly, with Rosetta West’s track record (all pun intended), the fact that this venture into a distinct style came out perfect is truly not a surprise at all. The musicians within this band understand their vision and have a genius skill at executing the vision, evident in the tracks that they put out. Once again, all instruments and elements of the song are mastered quite well. In this track, the mastering, especially with the strings, give the song a ‘pop’ of dimension, making it come alive. All songs from Rosetta West itself is like peeking into Pandora’s box- the only difference being the use of hearing instead of vision.

Score/Excellent: Rosetta West stuns audiences this time with ‘Diana’, a release that marks a venture into a completely distinct soundscape. They execute this very well, with enough compositional complexity and a knack for turning storytelling into an auditory art form. With strings that tug at your heartstrings and blues that echo the loneliness of the desert, this song is definitely going to resonate with anyone that listens to it. Highly recommended.

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]

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