Faded Seaside Glamour : Delays : Review : Rolling Stone

The Delays -- the latest British import, this time from the unfashionable city of Southampton and led by brothers Greg and Aaron Gilbert -- don't have hyperbole leading their way, but they should. It's Greg's delicate, borderline effeminate, vocals (which veer towards the Cocteau Twins' Liz Fraser or the Sundays' Harriet Wheeler) that give the group's debut, Faded Seaside Glamour, a graceful tone. All about the harmonies, Faded Seaside Glamour recalls the happy vibes of the Hollies, the pop sensibility of the La's and the eternal summer of the Byrds. The good-tempered jangle of "Wanderlust," bolstered by a steel drum, is made for a sing-a-long moment. Soaring trills give flight to "Nearer Than Heaven," while the blissful chimes of "Long Time Coming" provide an irresistible bounce. They may have found their sound by harvesting material from the past, but with a sensitive touch, Delays have found their way to tasteful pop in their own right.