Few (musical) things in life faze us.
ClashMusic has been there, listened to that and – if it didn’t work out – went and grabbed the refund. However within a few seconds of listening to Delicate Steve’s offering some mighty furrowed brows began to descend upon the office.
Sitting in the great art-pop / Absurdist lineage established by the likes of Devo and Sparks, Delicate Steve grab influence wherever they can.
Listening to the band’s debut album it’s possible to find cool touchstones (The Velvet Underground, Krautrock, SST) lingering alongside knackered, worn out 10cc records. The mind boggles.
Already a cause celebre in the American underground, Delicate Steve’s music is largely instrumental. De facto leader Steve Marion began constructing a radio-friendly concept album about the early life of D.B. Cooper, until a side step resulted in the Surrealist abstraction of ‘Wondervisions’.
Out now on Luaka Bop, the album is impossible to classify. Shifting from one moment to the next, it’s continual evolution shows no sign of abating.
Don’t believe us? Here’s testimony from Miles Seaton of Akron / Family. “From (the) inner space to outer space Delicate Steve radiates with the kind of rainbow positivity into the hearts of this world half frozen by cynicism – ready to thaw and thump wild again in the warmth of the sun”.
Upcoming single ‘Butterfly’ is a case in point. The track has a euphoric, naive centre – as if it has been constructed by a child who has never heard pop music before, simply plucking influences as they float through the air.
Due to be released next year, Delicate Steve are planning to cover Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Albatross’ on the flip.
Listen to ‘Butterfly’ now…
