Delta Rae - Carry The Fire

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Delta Rae – Carry TheFire
2012, Sire RecordsAfter five years of writing and nearly 2,700 reviews, it isincreasingly difficult to be absolutely bowled over by a new band.  While no one who writes like this wants toadmit it, there is a certain cynicism that sets in after a while.  A reviewer may check out as many as 20releases in a week with a goal of perhaps covering 4-5, and there is a definiteamount of musical homogeneity that occurs in the various branches of popularmusic.  It is the reason that radioprogrammers often claim they can tell a hit in the first 10-15 seconds of asong.  If there is no hook in that amountof time that catches the ear, the listener either tunes out or changes thechannel. Similarly, if an album is too like other acts, or justdoesn’t have something special to it, it’s easy to write it off.  It’s the thing that we reviewers must guardagainst.  Luckily, none of these concernscome into play with Delta Rae’s Carry TheFire, which is by far the most wonderfully vibrant and compelling releaseof 2012 to date.  The Durham, NorthCarolina sextet is comprised of siblings Ian (vocals/guitar); Eric(vocals/guitar/piano/keys); and Brittany Hölljes (vocals), along with ElizabethHopkins (vocals); Mike McKee (percussion) and Grant Emerson (bass guitar).  Discovered by legendary record exec SeymourStein, Delta Rae is living proof that once in a while, the music industryactually gets it right.Carry The Fire launcheswith “Holding On To The Good”, a wonderfully buoyant piece of orchestratedfolk/pop.  The complex vocal andinstrumental infrastructure of the song is challenging, laced with gorgeousharmonies and a dynamic, supple lead vocal by Brittany Hölljes.  “Is There Anyone Out There” is full of acontemplative melancholy and a Springsteen-esque observance of a world that isworse off than when Bruce wrote Born ToRun.  Delta Rae paints the picture ofa world that has lost its identity, from the perspective on of the lastbastions to carry on the old ways.  Theprovocative chorus is all about not giving up, but displays a waning hope thatthings can actually turn around.  “MorningComes” explores the feelings about seeing your home town fall into darker times.  Hope abounds here in more plentiful portionshere, and there’s a certain bleak beauty in this unresolved resolution.“If I Loved You” is a magical moment in songwriting; awell-written heartbreaker.  Brittany Hölljeschannels a bit of Sheryl Crow here, as our protagonist waxes poetic on what shewould do if she loved a suitor in the same way he loves her.  The song is wistful; she wishes she couldreturn what he feels.  It’s a wow momentfree of the cliché and entendres that so often accompany such ideas in popularmusic forms.  “Bottom Of The River” is abluesy gospel-inspired number that builds wonderfully dark bits of tension intobeautiful resolutions.  Brittany Hölljesshines in what most be the most dynamic and powerful vocal performance on thealbum. “Country House” is a lovely, contemplative exploration ofthe pure emotions of missing someone. There’s an almost academic approach to the song at first, but this slowburn fires into full inferno in the emotionally charged chorus.  The vocal and instrumental tableau here isnothing short of gorgeous.  “Surrounded”is adult orchestral pop that is wonderfully layered and complex.  There is a dynamic and tension-filled beautyhere that is impossible to ignore. “Dance In The Graveyards” is another moment of magic, as Delta Raeimplores listeners to make the most of every moment, both here and in thehereafter.  It’s a wonderfully vibrantpop tune brocaded with orchestra and amazingly resilient vocal triads.  This is an absolute WOW moment.But Delta Rae is not done. Just when you think they’ve hit their heights they push beyond with“Fire”.  This intense and driven numberis absolutely elemental in emotion and feel. Think Sometymes Why meets Nine Inch Nails (for intensity) and you’ll bein the ballpark.  Brittany Hölljes doesthings with her voice here that don’t seem humanly possible as she conveysanger and hurt in pure aesthetic forms. The moment where she breaks is chilling and drives through you like aspike.Delta Rae tones it down a bit with a mea culpa for humanimperfection entitled “Forgive The Children We Once Were”.  The song is beautiful, heartfelt and sweet inits honesty as it tries to move on the imperfections and thoughtlessness ofyouth.  “Unlike Any Other” is a strippeddown and heartfelt and emotionally raw. Subtle vocal harmonies set the tableau, but Brittany Hölljes’ voice and the pianoare used to maximum effect to convey musical secrets in a beautiful andpowerful performance.  And on the other side of darkness there is alwayslight.  That seems to be the deep seatedmessage behind closing out the album with “Hey, Hey, Hey”, a sweet andlight-hearted love song.  The lead vocaland harmonies mix in gorgeous measure, and the song has a nice, light touch.  This is a feel good time that lets you walkaway even after story filled with real life pain with a bounce in your step andhope in your heart.That’s the magic of Delta Rae.  There is a deep understanding of real worldpain and suffering in their music, and yet there is always hope and always justa bit of magic around the corner waiting to happen.  The musical intensity of the group is spinetingling at times; they can rock you sleep or blast you through the wallwithout ever losing a sense of who they are musically.  CarryThe Fire they do.  It won’t besurprising to see Delta Rae and Carry TheFire regularly mentioned as contenders for next year’s GRAMMY Awards.  In any case, Carry The Fire is certainly a Wildy’sWorld Certified Desert Island Disc. This one is a classic.Rating: 5 Stars (Outof 5)Learn more about Delta Rae at www.deltarae.com, www.facebook.com/deltarae, or www.myspace.com/deltaraemusic.