Quintessentially stamped with his unique musical identity, Delaney Davidson‘s latest album ties in with his extensive previous work, but readily holds up as a standalone piece. Catchy, memorable choruses are easy to find, right from opener Broken Wheel with its tremolo-dripping guitar. Foot stomper Something’s Wrong has an energetic and lively groove, while the slower Wait, which closes things out, sticks in the brain with its dark, ominous feel. Placed halfway through the album, Tell It To You breaks things up with a new upbeat feel to reinvigorate the listener. The slide playing on this track is perfectly executed. Gimme Your Hands is another instantly memorable gem, though such a song would certainly lose its magic if performed by anyone other than Davidson.

The exposing lyrics, distinct vocals and lo-fi recording sound break down any barriers between performer and listener. While his songs hold up on their own, the solid rhythm section of Ben Woolley and Joe McCallum glue Davidson’s carnivalesque creations together tightly. Recorded under the seasoned ears of Olly Harmer at The Lab, with mixing and mastering done in New York and Switzerland, the album’s production aligns with Davidson’s own travelling troubadour persona. While the tracks may be short this is largely due to his to-the-point songwriting, requiring no extraneous filler material.