We’ve been waiting a while for this. In a manner befitting their name, various setbacks and the loss of over a hundred demos have meant the follow up to the Delays’ widely under-rated 2004 debut has endured a difficult birth. The wait, however, has been worth it.
Originally set for release last October, You See Colours is awash with the Stone Roses melodies and La’s inspired sounds that made Faded Seaside Glamour such a near perfect pop debut. But there are interesting new avenues exploreds here too.
The Southampton-based quartet have leavened the pop mix with splashes of electronica, making this a more interesting and varied sonic experience. The quartet’s eyes are firmly fixed on making the perfect modern pop record and this is a very good stab at that elusive target. Opener ‘You And Me’ marks a fine start. With Greg Gilbert’s falsetto vocal, it erupts into full technicolor with swathes of warm guitar. The shimmering lead single ‘Valentine’ continues to push the record’s electro pulse with an adrenalised beat.
‘This Town’s Religion’, a ringer for The Killers, continues the strong opening, whilst the choral chimes of ‘Sink Like A Stone’ bring to mind The Stone Roses’ ‘Waterfall’. The gorgeous ‘Winter’s Memory Of Summer’ again indicates that intelligence hasn’t been sacrificed for pop confection, whilst the infectious ‘Given Time’ is a huge summer single waiting to happen.
Ambitious, glorious, warm and colourful, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more uplifting, unashamedly pop-tastic record all year.