[Discover/Listen/Download] – The Delta Mirror – [Electro-Shoe-Goth]

Read a review of The Delta Mirror’s debut album “Machines That Listen” and ten times out of ten you’ll read about each of these nine songs taking place in nine different rooms of a hospital.  It’s true, they do, but it seems to be the focus of many-a-blog and the music escapes their insight.  Craig Gordon and David Bolt (no relation to Usain, but they do look similar) started making music together as a hip-hop project last century and as The Delta Mirror recruited Karrie K on thunder-bass duties.

It’s a novel approach to making a record, a concept album of sorts, and the concept in question (hospitalisation) has the affect on the music you’d expect.  It’s sullen, machinist, sombre, contemplative, electronic and emotive, conjuring heartbreaking visions of saying goodbyes to loved-ones, an elderly couple spending their last moments together on this earth and nurses treating stab victims.  It’s the kind of album that different people can take different things from; for example the album title to me is almost as if the stories being told are from the point of view of the machines and equipment in each of these nine rooms, having the conversations and meetings that take place imprinted on them, much like a fly on a wall, or “if walls could speak”.

Instant comparisons to Interpol and even The XX with their sparse and minimalistic tones are abound, and when Interpol came out they were only compared to Joy Division, but I think the main comparison is the vocals, with The Delta Mirror’s frontman Craig Gordon showcasing his voice more so than Julian Plenti.  Don’t take my word for it though, make up your own mind.  I spoke to Craig yesterday and he gave me permission to post three of their songs for you to listen to.  So check them out, as well as a live video of “He Was Worse Than The Needle He Gave You” that they did for Dirty Laundry.

“Machines That Listen” is out now via Lefse Records for download and you can pre-order the CD or Vinyl due out on May 18th.  It’s a beautifully lamenting journey you’d do well to partake in.  Alone. Lights off. Headphones on. Consume (in large repeat quantities).

Buy “Machines That Listen” – Insound: LP (Vinyl) – Amazon: LP (Vinyl) | CD | Download (MP3) – iTunes: Download (MP3)

The Delta Mirror – “A Song About The End”
The Delta Mirror – “And The Radio Played On”
The Delta Mirror – “He Was Worse Than The Needle He Gave You”

Keep up to date with The Delta Mirror – MySpace | Twitter | Facebook | Label (Lefse Records)