Delays - 'Faded Seaside Glamour' (Rough Trade)
4/5
By: Toby L
Long has it been (if ever) when a record can open with Jamaican steel-drums and androgynous vocals and still be perceived as part of an ascending alt-music resurgence.
But Delays have done it. Not only part of the constantly increasing herd of UK indie/pop crossover-ensembles to be found filling the thousand-plus vacuums on the teeming gig-circuit at present, the Southampton quartet are forging their own majestic songwriting-finesse exempt from the school of cool that intoxicates most of their peers. Just sweeping, angelic, classic songs, admirably unashamed in their forthright melodious charm.
Their tact makes for a strong debut. 'Faded Seaside Glamour' is enriched with the misty-eyed sentimentalism and innocence of true romantics. Tracks lilt and hang in their own dainty warmth - take the impossibly beauteous 'No Ending' with its moving harmonies, strings and inspired vocal from frontman Greg Gilbert - stopping only occasionally for the killer-chorus, of which we're granted three of such bountiful measure: the hit-singles - a tirelessly graceful 'Nearer Than Heaven', Merseyside beat-pop harking 'Hey Girl', and heart-stopping highlight 'Long Time Coming'.
Then, add a dashing of mid-tempo, sprightly radio-hugging pop - 'You Wear The Sun', 'One Night Away' - the brooding electro-hammering of 'Stay Where You Are' or hymn-like 'On', and a genial balladering subtlety ('There's Water Here'; 'Satellites Lost') and our foursome's unrivalled blend of tunes, twinkly eyes and youth seems a hopeful stake of class for even their future, let alone now.
Windswept, instant, victorious: these are the almighty, irrepressible chimes of our times, young tykes. Devour upon first contact.
Artists in this article: Delays
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