Album Review
Delta Rae – After It All
Americana sextet Delta Rae hail from Durham, North Carolina. Their music mixes folk, blues rock and gospel influences to create a rich and melodic sound that is at time powerful and others soft, in places joyful yet can also be heartbreaking. But it is always melodic, dramatic and memorable. After It All is the band’s second album and was released in the US in April. It’s now available over here, and if Americana is your thing then it is simply a must have.
The varied sound the band creates is firmly based around the quite superb vocals. With no less than four vocalists the various combinations of male and female harmonies, and the sheer quality of each solo voice, is stunning. Siblings Ian, Eric and Brittany Holljes and Liz Hopkins are real talents. And the rhythm section of bassist Grant Emerson and Mike McKee on drums provide a powerful backing for the vocals and the wide array of instruments used.
Delta Rae’s music tells stories. This album centres on a par of young lovers struggling to build a life despite the recession in the USA, but it is so well written that the tales of struggling to find the American dream become universal.
The fast paced and anthemic Run and the dramatic Outlaws with its massive multi part harmonies set the bar high early in the album. Scared also sees the vocalists combining in chilling fashion on a song that tells of the fear of true love. Bottom Of The River is stirring with gospel and blues combining to good effect.
The two standout songs sit at the centre and define the album’s narrative. Chasing Twisters sees Liz Hopkins take the lead to great effect in a song with a western motif. Its emotional content, pulsating guitar and pounding drums give it a rock feel and the vocals soar over the backing in fine style. Bethlehem Steel, a tale of industrial decline in a Pennsylvania town told in a massive rock song that’s lyrically reminiscent of Springsteen’s Youngstown, sees an even better vocal performance. Hopkins has power as well as great range, and her voice has a smoky edge that adds soul. She uses it all to great effect here.
There is plenty of emotion on display throughout the album. Tender love songs like You’re The One For Me and the country pop of My Whole Life Long are very good, the latter seeing male and female vocals playing off each other very well. But the darker side of life is shown here too. Cold Day in Heaven has a bitter edge while the superb I Will Never Die is an angry blues song with a slow gospel tinge that tells of a witch trial.
After It All is a very good collection of songs that comes together to create a fine album. It is spirited and dramatic, almost theatrical in places, and its message is powerful. Delta Rae may be difficult to place into a musical category, never a bad thing, but there is absolutely no doubting the quality of their output.
Venue: After It All
Support Band: Warner Brothers