Delta Spirit - History From Below
by Benjamin Howarth
published: 14 / 8 / 2010

Label:
Rounder Records
Format: CD
intro
Authentic combination of 70's southern rock and country and vintage soul on second album from San Diego-based band, Delta Spirit
A fine album here from Delta Spirit, who perform bluesy soul-rock in fine style, with throaty vocals from Matt Vasquez. Having formed in 2005, when rhythm section Jonathan Jameson and Brandon Young (who had a background in emo) combined with their friend Scott Walker in the hope of playing the kind of music they listened to at home, they found Vasquez busking on a bench in the small hours of the morning. With hhis honey and whiskey soaked vocals in place, they had all the ingredients for music that combined 70's southern rock with country and vintage soul. After much acclaim for their debut album, ‘Ode To Sunshine’, the band have opted to spread their wings slightly, with the acoustic based sound expanded to the point where it would potentially fill a stadium in places. Yet, it never strikes me that they have lost any of their authenticity. The songs continue to sound relatively straightforward, yanking up from bluesy shuffles to belted out choruses, but underneath this Walker shows that he is a fine guitarist, layering his guitar parts over one another and adding a new dimension to Vazquez’s soul melodies. Far from sounding retro, Delta Spirit seem to adopted the sounds and attitude of an increasingly distant past with ease. Yet, as good as ‘History From Below’ is, I suspect that they will really be at their best in the live setting.
Track Listing:-
1 9112 Bushwick Blues
3 Salt in the Wound
4 White Table
5 Ransom Man
6 Devil Knows You're Dead
7 Golden State
8 Scarecrow
9 Vivian
10 St. Francis
11 Ballad of Vitaly
Label Links:-
http://www.rounder.com/https://www.facebook.com/RounderRecords/
https://twitter.com/rounderrecords
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Garfunkel and Garfunkel Jr. - Interview
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Clive Langer - Interview
Sukie Smith - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart