Delta Mainline
Ellie from Prescription PR is always good for sending some quality stuff through, so when she said that we needed to hear the new record from Edinburgh based Delta Mainline, I sat up and took some notice. Described as rick with texture and tinged with a healthy dose of psychadelia, this record is underlined with ghostly reverberations and atmospheric soundscapes, offering up 11 tracks to digest across the album. I figured that it was all very well looking at the album and reading about it, but to understand it I should probably have a listen, so cranked on Oh! Enlightened to see what it had to offer us!
Opening the album with Tus Nua things get off to a soft and serene start, immediately setting the scene as ‘off-piste’ yet somehow, not giving away the full picture too soon. Serving as an intro track, we’re led softly into Misinformation to get things moving properly, launching straight into an indie rock influenced melee of hammering bass rhythms, pounding guitar lines and straight down the line drumming. Sticking to the bass-heavy approach throughout the track, this is one which grows around you, pulling you in through the hard hitting vocals and forming a track designed to reignite that excitement you once felt about rock music. From soaring guitar lines through to urgent vocal lines, this track has it all, immediately letting us know that Delta Mainline are here, and they’re ready to take on the world.
Moving onto Stop This Feeling things once again get softened up, slowing down from the raucous pace of the previous track and ushering in a sense of atmospheric depth, lowering the vocals to match the soft guitar work which starts things off, before kicking up a notch to a Space Hog style vibe. Psychedelic whilst still firmly centred in the rock spectrum, this is another track which showcases the style of the band, showing they’re by no means one trick ponies, and that there’s a lot more still to come. It’s another shift as Dead Beat Blues takes the lead, once again changing their style towards a more atmospheric and progressive style, calming things down with an acoustic guitar line before once again presenting us with a healthy slab of seriously accomplished laid back rock. There’s a real Ocean Colour Scene feel to this one, offering up that laid back vibe which keeps you calm, whilst continuing with enough pace to keep things interesting and enticing throughout. Definitely a high point on the album – to me, this track has single written all over it, the sort of thing I think we’re going to be hearing a lot more of.
Continuing the progression of the album through the calm and emotional Fixing To Die, the deep and powerful The Church Is Up For Sale, the altogether psychedelic The Strange Fate Of Raoul Duke and the upbeat and in your face Florentine Regime, each track seems to come as a little snippet of the mind set of this band. No two tracks are the same meaning you never know what’s coming next or what you’re going to get, it’s a constant stream of excitement and uncertainty. Reaching another softened moment for Home To You we’re presented with a whole new outlook once again, this time toning things down to an almost western style opening before continuing to build on things. Adding in elements as it progresses, this track is almost like Ocean Colour Scene crossed with Sigur Ros – it’s a mix which is atmospheric, alluring and the sort of thing which is going to get you thinking, definitely a powerful moment. Standing out as another serious high point on the record, this is another one I would seriously recommend you check out, and another that I can well see getting some serious airplay.
Dark Energy is another moment of genius from Delta Mainline, offering up an opening sequence which reminded me of the middle moments of Guns N Roses Estranged (listen to it, it’s evocative of dark nights, wind blowing in the trees and moments of restless uneasiness) and continuing along a path designed to evoke thoughts in all those who hear it. Soon picking up the pace and launching into another track packed with atmospheric sounds, bass heavy rhythms and moments which will sit you up and make you pay attention, it’s only when the vocals come in that you realise there weren’t any before, the music did all of the talking for you here. Building to an almighty crescendo of guitars and drums before suddenly cutting out again, this track is powerful from start to finish in different ways, demonstrating the ability within the band as well as their understanding of music as a whole.
It’s only then left to Self Inflicted Ills to close things, finishing with another soft opening which demonstrates the bands roots, using soft vocals with piano lines to craft a sound which reflects on the album as a whole, bringing things full circle and letting you know that it’s been an emotional experience, rather than a simple listen. On a personal note, as the record came to a close on my first listen I found myself simply sitting back and thinking, it brings about so many thoughts and images that you’re left feeling physically and mentally drained, a sign that this is one hell of an album from start to finish.
I wasn’t sure about Delta Mainline when I read their bio on paper, but listening to the album it’s impossible to resist the music they’ve come up with. From start to finish this is an album which pushes the boundaries of different genres, refusing to stick within one or to a conventional style, and instead constantly moving to keep things interesting. Definitely an album I’ll be coming back to time and time again, this is a band who are primed for some serious recognition.
To find out more about Delta Mainline, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening the album with Tus Nua things get off to a soft and serene start, immediately setting the scene as ‘off-piste’ yet somehow, not giving away the full picture too soon. Serving as an intro track, we’re led softly into Misinformation to get things moving properly, launching straight into an indie rock influenced melee of hammering bass rhythms, pounding guitar lines and straight down the line drumming. Sticking to the bass-heavy approach throughout the track, this is one which grows around you, pulling you in through the hard hitting vocals and forming a track designed to reignite that excitement you once felt about rock music. From soaring guitar lines through to urgent vocal lines, this track has it all, immediately letting us know that Delta Mainline are here, and they’re ready to take on the world.
Moving onto Stop This Feeling things once again get softened up, slowing down from the raucous pace of the previous track and ushering in a sense of atmospheric depth, lowering the vocals to match the soft guitar work which starts things off, before kicking up a notch to a Space Hog style vibe. Psychedelic whilst still firmly centred in the rock spectrum, this is another track which showcases the style of the band, showing they’re by no means one trick ponies, and that there’s a lot more still to come. It’s another shift as Dead Beat Blues takes the lead, once again changing their style towards a more atmospheric and progressive style, calming things down with an acoustic guitar line before once again presenting us with a healthy slab of seriously accomplished laid back rock. There’s a real Ocean Colour Scene feel to this one, offering up that laid back vibe which keeps you calm, whilst continuing with enough pace to keep things interesting and enticing throughout. Definitely a high point on the album – to me, this track has single written all over it, the sort of thing I think we’re going to be hearing a lot more of.
Continuing the progression of the album through the calm and emotional Fixing To Die, the deep and powerful The Church Is Up For Sale, the altogether psychedelic The Strange Fate Of Raoul Duke and the upbeat and in your face Florentine Regime, each track seems to come as a little snippet of the mind set of this band. No two tracks are the same meaning you never know what’s coming next or what you’re going to get, it’s a constant stream of excitement and uncertainty. Reaching another softened moment for Home To You we’re presented with a whole new outlook once again, this time toning things down to an almost western style opening before continuing to build on things. Adding in elements as it progresses, this track is almost like Ocean Colour Scene crossed with Sigur Ros – it’s a mix which is atmospheric, alluring and the sort of thing which is going to get you thinking, definitely a powerful moment. Standing out as another serious high point on the record, this is another one I would seriously recommend you check out, and another that I can well see getting some serious airplay.
Dark Energy is another moment of genius from Delta Mainline, offering up an opening sequence which reminded me of the middle moments of Guns N Roses Estranged (listen to it, it’s evocative of dark nights, wind blowing in the trees and moments of restless uneasiness) and continuing along a path designed to evoke thoughts in all those who hear it. Soon picking up the pace and launching into another track packed with atmospheric sounds, bass heavy rhythms and moments which will sit you up and make you pay attention, it’s only when the vocals come in that you realise there weren’t any before, the music did all of the talking for you here. Building to an almighty crescendo of guitars and drums before suddenly cutting out again, this track is powerful from start to finish in different ways, demonstrating the ability within the band as well as their understanding of music as a whole.
It’s only then left to Self Inflicted Ills to close things, finishing with another soft opening which demonstrates the bands roots, using soft vocals with piano lines to craft a sound which reflects on the album as a whole, bringing things full circle and letting you know that it’s been an emotional experience, rather than a simple listen. On a personal note, as the record came to a close on my first listen I found myself simply sitting back and thinking, it brings about so many thoughts and images that you’re left feeling physically and mentally drained, a sign that this is one hell of an album from start to finish.
I wasn’t sure about Delta Mainline when I read their bio on paper, but listening to the album it’s impossible to resist the music they’ve come up with. From start to finish this is an album which pushes the boundaries of different genres, refusing to stick within one or to a conventional style, and instead constantly moving to keep things interesting. Definitely an album I’ll be coming back to time and time again, this is a band who are primed for some serious recognition.
To find out more about Delta Mainline, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls