Delta Spirit is a Californian five-piece band and this debut album is rough, raw and one of the best you’ll hear all year. It’s glorious… Each week on our Calon FM radio show (okay, where the f..k have you been?) we play at least three songs from what we feel is the best album received over the past week or so. And as it is with all great albums selecting tracks is a nightmare because they are all so bloody good!

The album opens with an introduction. ‘Wait Until Tomorrow Goes Away’ is a very brief, happy, bouncy acoustic affair that is rather out of character with what follows. Next track ‘Trashcan’ really starts the ball rolling with raw rock, a stonking rhythm and melody. The song doesn’t stop for a breather and roars along like a steam train. It’s brilliant. ‘People C’mon’ slackens in pace a tad with powerful vocal and honky-tonk piano pulling this mutha along.

‘House Built For Two’ opens with a wonderful spell of piano notes in what is a glacially-paced, contemplative song. Mandolin and country-style guitar interludes, a fabulous winding vocal, great melody and final instrumental ‘goodbye’ complete a formidable musical package. ‘Strange Vine’ is out-and-out country rock complete with jangly guitar chords, bombastic drum rhythm with that piano making a welcome return. Superb. ‘Streetwalker’ opens in Spectre-esque Motown style before dropping the disguise and reverting to type.

You see my problem… and it get’s worse with the highly emotive, harmonica-led protest song ‘People Turn Around.’ Lyrically, this song could turn out to be one of the best protest songs written in the last few years. The vocal is delivered with passion and sincerity, the pace is thoughtful and lyrics as clear as a bell (with superb vocal choruses) as if to make one take notice of what’s being said here. It’s fantastic. And it doesn’t let up! ‘Parade’ opens with a series of distinctive guitar riffs while the pace is diverse and multi-layered vocal choruses leap out of the blue to grab one by the throat.

‘Bleeding Bells’ changes tack as it takes a slow, steady acoustic route with brass adding a wistful touch. ‘Children’ throws everything into the protest pot with wailing harmonia and military drum rhythm, before a blanket guitar rush rolls in and a screaming vocal takes over. Another mesmerising song finale and the title track ‘Ode To Sunshine’ reveals itself to completes this great album with an epic, walz style  flourish.

Listening to this album for the umpteenth time I’m reminded of Bob Dylan and suspect that he is one of the band’s major influences. In a great album release year so far, this record stands loud and proud. Essential.

4.5/5