Delays
Faded Seaside Glamour (2004)

Review by: Michael Walls
Date: 6/15/04

There aren’t many bands that can turn heads twice. The first time you hear the music of Delays you’ll say “God, this is beautiful!” A swirling poppyness, filled with falsetto harmonies and gritty feminine lead vocals. The lost Abba sessions couldn’t be more colorful. But before you can start making comparisons of vocal similarities to Stevie Nicks, or to the sound of The Sundays – you’ll check the liner notes and find out that those beautiful vocals belong to Mr. Greg Gilbert.

For me, it stung for a moment, as I had already put a beautiful face to the beautiful voice. So instead of Stevie Nicks I now need to imagine Lindsey Buckingham or the guy from REO Speedwagon.

But after a complete listen of Faded Seaside Glamour it becomes a moot point. This is enjoyable pop music. A 60’s pop approach with a 70’s psychedelic boldness – songs like “Nearer Than Heaven” and “Long Time Coming” are so addictively sweet that my Windows Media Player visualization display nearly freaked out trying to keep up with the music.

These four brits, that liken their music to somewhere in between the Hollies and the Cocteau Twins, have signed on with Rough Trade Records (The Libertines, The Strokes) and are being served up as the alternative to Coldplay/Radiohead wannabees. Which seems like a good plan and could be a formula for success.