Delays have so far built a career on distilling everything that’s likeable about indie-centric British guitar music, while simultaneously avoiding any of the elements that can make it provocative and thrilling. Unfortunately for them, while nice guy melodic rock has proven to be a handsomely remunerative practice over recent times, success has consistently given the Southampton quartet the slip. In a head-to-head with The Feeling, for example, while they win hands down on every count that matters (choruses, influences, haircuts), they come up short on, well, the only count that matters (sales).
Everything’s The Rush doesn’t, however, find the band tearing up the gameplan in a desperate lunge for crossover success. If anything, with its sparkly melodies and jangly, feather-light feel, it’s very much of a piece with their previous albums – Faded Seaside Glamour and You See Colours.
As proven by ‘Touchdown’ and ‘Hooray’, they haven’t lost the knack (previously demonstrated on ‘Valentine’ and ‘Long Time Coming’) of rustling up effortlessly affable tunes. That said, there’s little here to suggest you’ll pine for their company once they’ve gone. Delays have been compared to some stellar acts – the Roses, The Cocteau Twins, The Kinks – and there are places when they do remind you of all your favourite bands. Unfortunately, though, these are fleeting, and mostly reminiscent of the bits on great albums that you skip with a clear conscience.