Album of the week

Great storytelling and great songs

THE DELINES

The Sea Drift (Decor Records) Album

The Delines are the American duo of Willy Vlautin and Amy Boone, who together produce a wonderful combination of blissful soulful alt-country tunes with Amy’s lived-in but seductive voice and Willy’s mesmerising storytelling.

He is the former frontman of the alt-country group Richmond Fontaine and as well as being a songwriter, Willy is an acclaimed novelist.

The Sea Drift is the first new material recorded by the pair since Amy was in a car accident in 2016 which left her in hospital for more than a year and delayed the completion of their 2019 album The Imperial.

Willy paid tribute to his musical partner and her contribution to The Sea Drift: “There’s strength to her voice, the strength of someone who’s overcome a lot of trauma and pain.”

The album begins with the evocative Little Earl, the tale of two brothers fleeing a convenience store after a shoplifting-gone-wrong incident.

Along the way we meet a cast of chararcters struggling with life’s challenges in so much as All Along The Ride toDrowning In Plain Sight.

The cinematic feel showcased on the album is bolstered by rich, warm instrumentation. Cory Gray’s keyboard, string, and horn arrangements serve as a central core backed by soul bass supreme Freddy Trujillo and jazz drummer Sean Oldham.

The songs are often about life’s losers but this album is a surefire winner.

To be in with a chance of winning this album answer this question: What city are the band based in?

Answers to: Delines competition, nigel.thornton@jpimedia.co.uk byFebruary 18