New Music Reviews

Reviewed by: Jessie Nelson, G-Spot Music Editor

“I love the rock, as much as you do, go where the girl bands won’t play, I love the roll, as much as you do, go where the girl bands don’t play, I’d love to forget you, I’d love to forget places and scenes like this exist…” 

Emotional upheaval did Delta Dart good on their first full length CD entitled “Fight or Flight”.  Their feminist folk rock has a versatile edge about it, whether they’re screaming for their hearts at full throttle or contemplating emotional insanity at a lower volume. The lyrics are blunt and punchy, regardless of the backdrop they sit on: electric guitar, bass and drums or the acoustic guitar on its’ own. Sissy Chromes poignant “bits and pieces” vocals in contrast to Amber Wave’s soprano-like trains of though is a treat and the two bend harmony and lyrics at their will, Amber projecting things eloquently and Sissy spitting out no-holds barred takes on the situation at hand, the vocal interplay keeping the ears on their proverbial toes.  Erin covers the instrumental end of the band playing electric guitars, bass, drums and acoustic guitar. Having seen these girls live a year ago, I’m excited and impressed to see just how far these girls went this time, pushing the barricades of what thought provoking emotional music is supposed to sound like and filling our ears with something that’s real.

Reid Speed’s “Resonance” takes the listener on a journey through melodic drum and bass and two step, darting in and out of the two genres like a ninja of sound.  Desolate Plains”, the opening track; trembles and sizzles with spatial percussion over a crescendo wash of melody.  As the drums kick in, ambient vocals enter as the pulse builds and breaks.  The tension holds for two seconds longer than expected and the drums and melody hit like a truck going full speed with keyboards and a moving bass line holding down the fort.  Rhythm and melody bounce back and forth with “Resistance”, the pop vocals and robot like drums making this a drum and bass dance floor favorite.  Reid seems to use this half of the album to get the listener to tread into deeper waters because soon after the diva vocals and last strains of keyboards fade out, the darker sounds of two step creep up.  The drums wind up tighter than a clock and one could swear there’s a computer behind the decks instead of a human being, with the vibe echoing “in a basement rave at four am.”  Towards the end of the album the beat slows down a bit, fading back into the groove with “Euphoria”: an ambient trip-hopish track fusing Japanese flute with an MC to dip and dive over the sound waves.  Take Reid Speed’s journey when you want a sensory experience, regardless of your destination.