Today’s review is a bit of a technicality in terms of actually qualifying as a new release. Personally, I came across the record about a week ago, and the ‘official’ release date is listed as today. On the other hand, the record has been floating around physically for about a year now, and has been available as a download on iTunes since February. Given that it is a self-released endeavor, these situations are not uncommon, and since the mass release is happening now and I like the record I’m going to go ahead and act as if it is spanking new, despite the fact that some folks out there may have already had their hands on it for a little while now. Those three dudes pictured above are responsible for the album that I speak of. I’m not sure which one is which, but collectively they make up the New Jersey indie rock trio The Delfields, and their debut album, Ogres, is kinda-sorta dropping today.
Originally formed back in 2006, he band consists of a former guitar instructor and a pair of brothers; the kind of lineup that indie bands have wet dreams about. Musically the trio is ripe with a host of sonic influences, all of which they wear proudly on their sleeves. The glaring comparison would be to The Shins, though personally I think this is what The Shins would sound like if they had much larger cojones. That said; if you are a Shins fan who is somewhat disgruntled due to their loss of street cred (via Zach Braff), let me introduce you to your new favorite band. If that crude comparison doesn’t strike a chord, a more technical description would include the terms bedroom pop, surf rock, lo-fi, and 60’s sensibility. All of these influences play out on the record through fuzzy guitars that are sometimes crisp and sometimes crunchy, psychedelic synths, and heavy doses of snare drums and cymbals.
Album opener “Slippery Slope” kicks things off with tones of psychedelica and a haunting vocal, followed by “Honest,” bringing more of the same while kicking up the surf influence by a few notches. Together they represent a solid opening pair of tracks that sets the mood for things to come. “Francine” ushers in a dose of synthesizer, providing a soaring atmospheric backdrop offsetting some more aggressive percussion work. “Short Sleeves” maintains a similar vibe from the synths, but here you find the hazy guitar giving way to a somewhat cleaner tone and the vocals dropping a few octaves, shifting from near falsetto to a somber growl. Title track “Ogres” kicks in strong, boasting an opening riff that brings to mind early Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Darker hooks give way to an uplifting, dreamy chorus, providing a sweet juxtaposition of sound and resulting in one of the albums cornerstone pop gems.
The next two tracks, “Solvents and Bedrooms” and “Our Beds,” pair together perfectly, both exhibiting the strongest examples of The Shins influence that I mentioned earlier. “Solvents” brings a hint of twang into the mix and a mellow eeriness to the vocal, which is bolstered nicely by some nifty whistling. “Our Beds” sounds as though it could have been included on Oh, Inverted World without anyone betting an eye, and if it was it would probably be my favorite track on the album. “Fawn Fight” finds the band at their most raucous. It is a true freak-out track, with guitars, drums, and keys blasting simultaneously at a blistering pace. If there is a proper time to dance while listening to this record it would be during this song. Closer “Highlands” is nearly the polar opposite to “Fawn Fight” on this record, sitting alone as the only true semi-ballad on Ogres. Showing a more sensitive side of the band’s sound, it is a contemplative slow burner that is both tender and warm, coming in with soft guitar and fading out to lush orchestral experimentation.
From beginning to end, Ogres is a tight, focused, and cohesive record. Though it is merely the band’s debut effort, the fact that they spent three years crafting it is evident in its execution. Consisting of nine tracks and clocking in at a mere 26 minutes, it makes for an enjoyable listen and chugs along nicely with no sign of unnecessary filler. Based on this album, I have no doubt that The Delfields will be on a lot of peoples’ radar moving forward. But don’t take my word for it, have a listen to two tracks from Ogres below and hear it for yourself.
