Portland-based country-soul group The Delines who swept the board in our end of year readers’ poll in 2019 have announced their third studio album ‘The Sea Drift’ which will be released on February 11th 2022 via décor records.
First single and opening track of the album ‘Little Earl’ is out today (7” and digital) accompanied by a music video which you can peruse below. Written by songwriter and author Willy Vlautin, and performed by lead singer Amy Boone, the track is described as “a tender and moving song that manages to blend soul, country and folk into a sound that feels warmly familiar yet totally unique.” ‘Little Earl’ is the first track from a collection of songs The Delines describe as “songs and stories found drifting up and down the Gulf Coast.”
“‘Little Earl’ was one of the first tracks I brought to ‘The Sea Drift’ rehearsal sessions, and as it turns out the one that helped create the sound and feel of the entire record,” Vlautin writes. “It’s a soul/Tony Joe White inspired groove, and Cory Gray’s horn and string arrangements set the cinematic tone for two brothers who get in a shoplifting-gone-wrong incident at a mini-mart outside of Port Arthur, Texas. I love songs that just drop you in the middle of a scene and that’s what we tried to do here.”
The video for the song was shot by videographer Jordan Mosser in and around the town of Galveston, Texas, entirely through the windows of a car as day turns to night, mirroring the narrative of the song as Little Earl and his brother who is “bleeding in the backseat” drive down the Gulf Coast, debating if they should go to a hospital to treat his wounds in the aftermath of their robbery gone wrong.
The cinematic feel showcased on ‘The Sea Drift’ is bolstered by the instrumentation of the album. Cory Gray’s keyboard, string, and horn arrangements serve as a musical core while being backed by soul bass supreme Freddy Trujillo and jazz drummer Sean Oldham. The band once again partnered with John Morgan Askew who produced their 2014 debut ‘Colfax’ and is the first new material recorded by The Delines since Amy Boone was in a horrific car accident in 2016 that hospitalized her for multiple years and delayed the completion of their 2019 album ‘The Imperial’ until she was able to stand on her own two feet again to finish recording the record. There was a period of time during Amy’s long recovery in which Willy was unsure she would want to continue on with the band after the immense physical and mental toll of her injuries, but Amy persevered. Speaking of her contributions to the album, Willy said “‘The Sea Drift’ sessions were also the first time since Amy had been injured that she felt strong and confident in the studio, and you can really hear it on this record. There’s strength to her voice, the strength of someone who’s overcome a lot of trauma and pain.”
You can pre-order the album here or a Rough Trade limited edition blue vinyl of it here. In the meantime, here’s the tracklisting and UK dates.
‘THE SEA DRIFT’ TRACKLISTING:
Little Earl
Kid Codeine
Drowning In Plain Sight
All Along The Ride
Lynnett’s Lament
Hold Me Slow
Surfers In Twilight
Past The Shadows
This Ain’t No Getaway
Saved From The Sea
The Gulf Drift Lament
European Tour Dates 2022:
Feb 9 Cork, IE – Live At St Lukes
Feb 10 Belfast, UK – Rosemary St Church
Feb 11 Kilkenny, IE – Set Theatre
Feb 12 Dublin, IE – Liberty Hall Theatre
Feb 13 Bury, UK – The Met
Feb 14 Bristol, UK – The Fleece
Feb 15 Pocklington,UK – Arts Centre
Feb 16 Newcastle,UK – Gosforth Civic
Feb 17 Glasgow,UK – St Lukes
Feb 18 Nottingham,UK – Metronome
Feb 19 London,UK – Union Chapel
Feb 21 Brussels, BE – AB Club
Feb 22 Wageningen, NL – Junushoff
Feb 23 Utrecht, NL – Tivolivredenburgh
Feb 24 Groningen, NL – Oosterpoort
Feb 25 Eeklo, BE – N9
April 19 Oslo (Asker), NO – Kulturhus
April 20 Stockholm, SE – tbc
April 21 Goteborg, SE – Pustervik
April 22 Malmo, SE – tbc
April 23 Odense, DK – Dexter
April 24 Copenhagen, DK – Stairway
April 25 Hamburg, DE – Nochtspieiler
April 26 Oberhausen, DE – Zentrum Altenberg
April 27 Hamont-Achel, BE – Aha
April 28 Venlo, NL – Grenswerk
April 29 Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso Noord
