Delays The Garage, London 6/10/10
3/5
By: Tom Hocknell
It’s strange to think of Delays as old kids on the block, not that many would recognise them, which is a shame. Their fourth album Star Tiger Star Ariel was recently released to overwhelming indifference, while Friendly Fires and Cut Copy have taken their lead (admittedly wrenched from The Rapture and their ilk), in making rock music for the dance floor (or is it the other way round?).
So, success still eludes Delays, but it is hard to see why. Although they haven't had that big break through song, the all-important calling card which bands often struggle to shrug off, they do know their way around a tune, as the four to the floor electronics of ‘Lost in a Melody’ show. But Star Tiger Star Ariel has turned its back on the anthems they need, returning to the more indie guitar of their debut. That their more ‘up for it’ pop songs work best live must add further confusion to who they are.
So, this should be a band on the ropes, but they come out fighting, at least they do after singer Greg Gilbert’s overcomes the initial poor sound, to sing in his trademark falsetto, an a capella of near-hit, ‘Hey Girl’. And he is busy throughout, encouraging Beach Boys harmonies on ‘Nearer than Heaven’ and the catchy Boo Radleys-ish ‘Hideaway’, while swapping vocal duties with brother Aaron, whose constant enthusiasm at the keyboards would make a puppy look tired.
New song ‘May 45’ has a gentle groove, but with less dreamy lyrics than usual, dealing with the war (we think), and it’s the highlight of their more ‘rock’ direction. Nonetheless, the more electronic-leaning next single ‘The Last Estate’ sweeps through the room on a tide of bonhomie, with people carried on its refrain of ‘Why don’t you ask me to stay?’ Which of course after the closer ‘Valentine’ the crowd do, charmingly humming its melody until the band return to stage.
They threaten to play Hard Fi’s ‘Hard to Beat’, but ultimately have little need to resort to a cover, with You See Colour’s ‘You and Me’ rocking like Ash at home-time. So, particularly live, Delays continue to be a great lost find, and while tonight will not help them decide what sort of band they want to be, it succeeds as a reminder they Delays have a corking ‘Best of’ album to come.
Artists in this article: Delays
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