Ghost City
Ghost City places Delta Sleep's restless guitars in a world where nature has almost disappeared. You do not need a lengthy explanation of that story to appreciate the record. The music already expresses a longing for somewhere freer. There is room to breathe between the carefully played rhythms, and the vocals keep the intricate passages human.
Sultans of Ping takes its time at the start. The sound grows slowly before the band arrive with much greater force. At the end of the album, Afterimage returns to that material in an acoustic form. This gives the record a satisfying shape. Short connections and environmental sounds also help hold its different sections together.
Within that structure, the songs are strong enough to stand alone. Single File brings out the band's sharper side through powerful vocals and heavy guitar strokes. On Dotwork, the melodies remain clear while the rhythm keeps shifting. The playing is precise, but rarely sounds like an attempt to prove how difficult everything is.
El Pastor is another highlight. Emotional singing and busy drums give it a strong forward movement. The instrumental Glass then offers some calm, although less happens there than its place in the record might suggest. The atmosphere is pleasant; the musical development is limited. It works better as a pause within the album than as a separate track.
Delta Sleep mostly choose to develop their familiar sound further. The band take few major stylistic risks. In return, they offer a convincing combination of flow, melody and energy. Ghost City pays attention to detail without losing its larger story. It is an accessible entry into math rock that also leaves plenty to discover for listeners who enjoy following the individual instruments.
