Delusions Of Grandeur
Petaluma, 2022
10/10
Listen to Delusions Of Grandeur
The frontwoman Sophie Gault embraces all the best aspects of folk, Americana and roots songwriting across this stunning album, where an exceptional backing band the Grammy Award winning producer Ray Kennedy illuminate the sublime tunes.
“Golden Rule” opens the listen with warm acoustic guitar and a cozy, timeless folk spirit that showcases Gault’s gorgeous pipes, and “Churches & Bars” follows with intricate finger picking and vivid storytelling in the rootsy rocker.
“Feel Better” occupies the middle spot and emits a poetic display of well timed drumming from Lemmy Hayes and Jules Belmont’s agile electric guitar, while “Fire And Ice” showcases Twon Haugen’s strategic bass amid Gault’s acoustic guitar and expressive pipes.
Nearing the end, “Heavy Metal” indeed gets more forceful, where Micah Hulscher’s precise keys and Belmont’s guitar complement the gritty melody, and “Parting Words” exits the listen intimate, moving and very much benefitting from Austin Hoke’s cello and Ryon Westover’s backing vocals.
A listen that’s heavy on atmosphere, contains some reverb, and an occasional duet, Gault and company have created quite possibly the best Americana record of 2022.
Travels well with: The Whitmore Sisters- Ghost Stories; Jess Jocoy- Such A Long Way