Artist - Delta Spirit
Album - History From Below
Label - Decca

Delta Spirit almost define the can-do spirit of indie music.

Their debut album, Ode To Sunshine, is an essential record that has been released and re-released as the band started to gain its audience.

And that audience has been gained one fan at a time by taking the show on the road, and blowing people away nightly.

That album should be on every music fan's shelves, sounding like The Band 40 years later - along with These United States and Centro-matic, this is America's new best new Band.

One of the main benefits of that continual live experience is that the follow-up has been honed in front of audiences, and, through a process of evolution, the 11 songs here are genuinely great. Keeping the live studio sound, there is a real sense of space and energy - fortunately the band's range is maintained, rather than simply filling the album with barnstormers - Salt In The Wound is touching, aching. History From Below is another essential album from a band you have to know about.

Rating 9/10
Mike Rea