Artist: Delays
Title: Star Tiger, Star Ariel
Label: Lookout Mountain
Genre: Indie
Bitrate: 206kbit av.
Time: 00:46:55
Size: 73.29 mb
Rip Date: 2010-06-30
Str Date: 2010-06-21
01. Find A Home (New Forest Shaker) 4:02
02. The Lost Estate 4:05
03. Shanghaied 2:59
04. Rhapsody 4:00
05. May '45 4:17
06. Hold Fire 4:07
07. Unsung 3:59
08. In Brilliant Sunshine 4:42
09. Moment Gone 4:27
10. Lakes Can Be Lethal 5:12
11. Star Tiger, Star Ariel 5:05
Release Notes:
Just when you think you've got the Delays sussed and their style pinned
down to a tee, up pops another record to convince you otherwise.
The prolific Southampton band specialise in confounding their listeners
in that department - but that's not a problem, as most of said
listeners are enjoying the music too much to care about its origins and
its influences. Their loyal fanbase is a testament to their appeal -
but perhaps it's time a few of the more general public sat up and took
some notice.
What really makes this ambitious band work their ideas out so well on
record is Greg Gilbert's voice. He leads a song like Rhapsody with a
commanding presence, yet something in the delivery of his vocal lends a
certain vulnerability, despite the big beats and spacious ambience
underneath and overhead.
This, like many songs on the self-released fourth album, has moments of
pure beauty. It's as if the band are delighting in exploring new sounds
to go with Gilbert's distinctive tones, and perhaps more importantly
relishing the freedom of their own record label.
There are several moments to shorten the breath, chief among them the
golden vocal harmonies of May '45, the precise spot when the guitars
and bass hit the ground running part way through In Brilliant Sunshine,
and the title track in general - a fusion of raw riffing and massive
beats that lends more of a rock attitude.
Just towards the end the record loses momentum a little, the meandering
of Moment Gone and Lakes Can Be Lethal lulling the senses somewhat, but
that only serves to clear the way for the big finish, where everything
gets beefed up once again and we finish on an affirmative high.
Too many guitar bands these days plough a safe, soft rock furrow - but
Delays aren't here for that. The swooping romanticism of their songs is
infectious, the listener carried along on a wave of high emotion
throughout until being set gently down at the end. They are underrated
treasures who we should make more of - and may become part of a New
Forest uprising, if this album reaches the right ears.