DELAYS are no longer going UNSUNG around here! /// The Burning Ear

there’s a hole carved in me you can see straight through, fill it in, fill it in, ‘cos it’s shaped like you

I get a crap-load of emails everyday from people wanting me to listen to this-or-that terrible up and coming band. Luckily, most of them are so poorly constructed that I don’t have to feel bad about ignoring them. But when I get an email from one of TBE’s most loyal readers, jonathan_uk, you know I damn well pay attention! (The dude’s read every single post I’ve written on TBE) Anyway, a while ago he wrote me to recommend his favorite band, Delays. I was only familiar with one of their tracks, the super upbeat “Hooray” which was actually featured on an early TBE mix. I promptly dug into that jam’s album (2008′s Everything’s The Rush) which didn’t grab me at first. However, last month’s Star Tiger Star Ariel soon followed and has been on repeat every since! First single “Unsung” (above) is 4 minutes of swirling high-vocaled, fist pumping, love affirming proof of how big this album is. Delays have a very polished and poppy sound but somehow they make things so grand and epic that it works. I get a real sense of sincerity from lead singer Greg Gilbert. And besides, how can you be hating when this jam is cranked to 11!

♫ Delays – The Lost Estate

“The Lost Estate” layers massive synths over soaring guitars over Gilbert’s angelic vocals over pounding drums until it’s basically become a stadium sized layer cake. Star Tiger Star Ariel being Delays 4th album these guys have the chops to tackle mellower jams with the same talent as their epic stuff. All this means that I can solidly recommend this album to anyone who is remotely feeling these jams. As for some more words on the band from a guy who knows them infinitely beter than me, here is Jonathan’s take:

“From first hearing ‘Long Time Coming’ – a track that was to go on to be my mobile ringtone for many years – on a late night music radio show back in 2004, I was instantly hooked on majestic Southampton band, Delays. All three previous albums (“Faded Seaside Glamour”, “You See Colours” and “Everything’s The Rush”) are still getting some regular play-time on my commute to work and still sounds as fresh as when I first heard them. It’s difficult to pick stand out tracks due to the high quality of their work but “Nearer Than Heaven”, “Valentine” and “Hey Girl” are sure-fire timeless wonders.

New album, “Star Tiger, Star Ariel” is another immense collection of tracks ranging from the glorious “In Brilliant Sunshine” to the melancholy of “Moment Gone”. It sure deserves to give Delays the mainstream break-through they deserve. In the meantime, I’ll look forward to seeing them live again in October…”