Delta - Slippin Out

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

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Delta have been struggling since 1993. Although they have spent much of the period since then signed to Acid Jazz records they did not manage to actually release a single record through them. Luckily the Dishy label, which is run by a huge fan of Delta, came to the rescue and released the 'Laughing Mostly' compilation last year. Now it is releasing a proper debut, 'Slippin' Out', which has recently deservedly been awarded the NME Album Of The Month Prize. The seven year backlog has some advantages though. It has allowed the band to arrive at the twelve compositions featured here, which are of such a high standard that it would be easy to convince someone new to them that 'Slippin' Out' was in fact a singles compilation! Brother Patrick and James Roberts represent the songwriting team, contributing six songs each. Equally important though is the string arranger and keyboardist Louis J. Clark who adds a touch of class to each of the tracks. If the Roberts brothers are Lennon and McCartney, then Clark must surely be George Martin. Guitars are only a minor feature of the album. It is the strings along with the keyboard parts which are the vital ingredients to the sound of "Slippin' Out". Strings are regularly used, but don't sound as if they have been added to the song afterwards (although, obviously, they have!) and certainly don't sound over-used. Keyboards form the basis of every track, with guitars operating alongside the keyboards rather than as the central element. This creates a sixties pop feel, although at no point does it sound as if it imitates that sixties pop sound. This is the perfect sound for the Roberts' superb upbeat pop songs. I often feel that a straight pop album should never pass the forty five minute mark. The twelve here pass sixty, which is its only real flaw. The variation between the two songwriters, however, counters the length and has kept me interested. James Roberts' songs, which include the album's definite highlight 'It's Alright' and also 'Everybody', combine lyrical contentment and enthusiasm for life with the upbeat sounds of The Beatles, Byrds and The Searchers. On the other hand Patrick Roberts writes of torment and depression on 'Elephant Man', a tale about bulimia. Another of the major highlights written by him is 'Cuckoo' which has the lines "everything's cuckoo - nothing is plain - nothing going on in our heads". The lyrics may be depressing , the complete opposite of brother James, but they are still set to the upbeat sound of the sixties. Amazingly, I didn't find Delta's songs that catchy the first time I heard them, but the melodies really jump out after a few listens. "Slippin' Out" does not appear to fit into any current musical climate, but it is better for it. I have been playing it constantly ever it since it arrived, and I'm sure anyone else who has bought it will do so too. A brilliant christmas present, I'm sure!

Track Listing:-

1 Color Madre
2 Cuckoo
3 Yampee
4 Everybody
5 Slippin Out
6 We Come Back
7 Bra
8 It's Alright
9 Don't Bring It Home
10 L' Egohead
11 Elephant Man
12 I Want You

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