Delwood
Honest House, 2021
9/10
The debut album from a Belgian band that hosts two bass players, Delwood create a curious brand of rock that takes nods to jazz, post-rock and even punk as each track takes on a identity of its own, and is executed with tremendous precison.
“Hearts As Clocks” starts the listen with a smooth delivery of modern indie-rock, where punchy drumming from Alex Brull and gritty vocals are set against a dreamy backdrop, and “At Large” follows with Vince Oury’s glowing keys amid bouncy bass lines as both soft and firm vocals enter.
At the halfway point, “A House Is A Corridor” touches on post-rock ideas, where a buzzing quality and much beauty weave in and out of the meticulous textures, while “The Sequence Of Facts” brings both cinematic and psychedelic flashes to Delwood’s very unique version of song craft.
“The Sound Of Victory” appears near the end and balances driving alt-rock moments with political soundbites and math-rock tendencies, and “Lighthouses” exits the listen with a buzzing, busy landscape that segues into hazy, lo-fi moments of surreal songwriting.
Few bands exist today that are as unique as Delwood, and this first album is an absolute treasure that is not to be missed for those with an ear for the unconventional.
Travels well with: Daydream 3- The Lazy Revolution; Pulsar Ensemble- Bizarre City