Deloro – an collection of under appreciated heroes that includes Jennifer Castle, Tony Romano, Constantines alums (Dallas Wherle) and 40 of the $100 (Mortimer and Clarke) – is shrouded in mystery. Their new self-titled LP, out now on Idee Fixe, simply appeared without celebration or warning.
The foundation of the the record is the psychedelic explorations written by some of the most talented musicians in today’s rock/country scene, but the LP exposes more diverse influences. Punk rock edge and even hints of soul creep into the clouded haze and provide a fresh canvas for each of the songwriters.
Hidden by the buildings and foot traffic of downtown Toronto, it’s not surprising that the band moves in and out of soft focus, unwilling to attract attention. The sounds grow in their neighborhoods and notes drift into open spaces, adding bright colors to the black and white compositions. So much of this LP relies on contrast; the narratives and gritty melodies are softened by moments of beauty – like the perfect harmonies that simply appears on the heavy closer, “Doesn’t Take Too Much” – and satisfied contentedness challenges the distortion, haze and pain.
The freedom of sound and willingness to share the spotlight helps Deloro push limits and test boundaries. Castle’s smoky voice rides the huge electric riff and keep time percussion on “Travelling Man” and sets the table for the blissful, monster of a track “Joy Joy” and the distorted “No Fun”, but there’s not a clunker or safe song in the bunch. The melodies are full, heavy and exciting, but full of moments of honesty that you hold close. The cracked vocals of “Years” and “My Country” are tense and heartfelt. On their own, they might sound broken, but when the guitar and harmonies float beautifully behind them, they are the emotional high water marks on the record.
Without question, this collection of songs is consuming. It burns with a passion that seems to all but have flamed out of the roots scene. With each exhale, you can feel the fire rising, signaling us through the darkness. Oh, and the packaging is fucking fantastic. Don’t miss out.
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MP3:: Deloro – Travelling Man
WEB:: http://www.myspace.com/delorodeloro