Delicate Steve - This Is Steve

  by Paul Waller

published: 25 / 2 / 2017

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I first dipped my toes into the world of Delicate Steve after being turned onto a track from this instrumentalist’s debut album ‘Wondervisions’ thanks to a mention in an interview with David Byrne of Talking Heads fame. With that sort of recommendation I bit and I have to admit to enjoying the thing, but it was quickly retired as I moved onto something else. That seems like an age ago now and a quick Google search led me to find that between now and then I had missed the guy’s follow-up and he has now found himself on Anti- Records, a label that has tirelessly pushed boundaries and strives for excellence in no matter what genre a release finds itself attached to. So things look really good. So, ‘This Is Steve’ then at first listen finds itself a tricky fit. I can find no negatives amongst the ten song set but I never found myself dazzled either. Clever guitar lines and keyboard licks take the place of where you would expect the vocal melodies to sit and that’s just fine. Simply look at the two pre-released tracks of the buzzsaw ‘Cartoon Rock’ and the folky swing of ‘Winners’ and you will have effectively discovered Delicate Steve’s bag of tricks, uncovering all his ingredients with those two opening tasters. What’s left? Well this record has to survive on its melodic elements alone, with no vocals it simply has little choice and while the likes of opener ‘Animals’ and deep cut ‘Driving’ deliver hooks as well as anything you’ll find in anything bothering the mainstream today I still feel this will end up in the same place as ‘Wondervisions’, holding its place on the backburner, every now and then a track appearing on shuffle play and quickly bending onto the next.

Track Listing:-

1 Animals
2 Winners
3 Cartoon Rock
4 Nightlife
5 Tomorrow
6 Help
7 Swimming
8 Driving
9 Together
10 This Is Steve

Band Links:-

http://delicatesteve.com/
https://www.instagram.com/delicatesteve/
https://www.facebook.com/DelicateSteve/
https://twitter.com/delicatesteve
https://www.youtube.com/user/delicatesteve

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