Album Review

Delta Spirit – Ode To Sunshine

• 13th Apr 2009

The album cover amused me no end – a topless man on a boat drinking lager.

It made me chuckle so I was pleasantly amused at the content of this Californian quintet. Their sound is somewhat retro with ‘Trashcan’ demonstrating their love of the Stones and 12 bar blues.

What is quite engrossing about their style is the vocal style and warmth of Matthew Vasquez killer larynx. The album ebbs and flows and simply swims in his golden laced voice and this is never more presence in ‘Stranger Vine’ which is simply beautiful and is very reminiscent of Bright Eyes, a proper jolly jaunt of a pop song.

‘Streetwalker’ has a sniff of Vampire Weekend’s Afrobeat sound but that doesn’t distract from the fact that it’s a beautifully crafted tune. The passion in Vasquez’s at times rip-throating refrain is ubiquitous throughout and this really shines out on ‘People turn around’.

There is a real sense of camaraderie throughout this and it’s almost a love-in. Ok, so the music is nothing new and it’ wears it’s heart on its sleeve with it’s influences but the band’s ability to pull it off is at time swoonsome and perpetual. You can have all the obvious influences in the world but it if you haven’t got the noggin to deliver then you’re simply wasting your time. Delta Spirit do it with a carefree ease and this never more presence than in the mouth organ led ‘children’. A beautiful album for fans of melody and simple but soaring anthems.