Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Album Review : Big Black Delta -Big Black Delta

Big Black Delta
Big Black Delta
**and1/2 out of *****

The solo project from Mellowdrone front man Johnathan Bates may sound like a low down blues outfit but the old timey stripped down sound couldn't be further away from the electro urges found on this self titled release.

Bates has been producing this supped up electronica for a few years now and this album comes equipped with all the bells and whistles of disco rock along with his distinct vocals.  "Into The Night" has eerie keyboard sounds and literal chimes plunking throughout.  One of the first singles "Side Of The Road" has it's dance beats cooking with a full on break smack in the middle before revving up again.

"x22" plays with electric guitar noise and spastic fits of riffs in the vein of Sleigh Bells.  That industrial tinge though is the outlier as most of these tracks are more comfortable cooling in a club then a sweaty mosh pit.

"Love You This Summer" closes the disk with some "Ooh's and Ah's" over an acoustic guitar line and drawn out electric keyboards. "Betamax" is muddled with some distortion but evokes English Beat bands of the early 80's, a period where Bates seems very comfortable. The other single "IFUCKINGLOVEYOU" has a Smith's feel from that same time period with some driving drums and angelic vocals, the best song on the disk.

As a solo project Big Black Delta lets Bates delve into his more dance happy tendencies keeping the rocking for his day project.

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We have kept tabs on Mellowdrone since we caught them years ago at the old Knitting Factory, but we gotta admit this solo project from Bates is not really our favorite kind of music. That said if you are into electronica, give it a whirl.

Support the artist here, buy the disk here and peep some samples below:
"Betamax"
      
"IFUCKINGLOVEYOU"

 

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