Sloppy Bluesy Shanties: The Del-Viles’ Danceable New EP
Review by: Emily D. Schmidt, Writer
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
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The Del-Viles’ latest EP, Daydreamer, condenses rock music down to the essentials - and does so extremely well. Self-described as “skeleton dance lessons from French pirates,” the three-piece garage band’s catchy guitar riffs are infectious, and the gravelly vocals bring an edgy twist. As the band’s bassist, Gabs Semansky says, “I like to think of the three of us as some silly guys out at sea dancing along to some bluesy shanties. Sloppy bluesy shanties.”
While Semansky, the newest member of The Del-Viles, describes the band’s style as unpolished and spontaneous, the EP is a purposeful arrangement of some of the most danceable tracks from the band’s discography. The other two bandmates wrote some of these songs over ten years ago and I can definitely see why they’ve kept them in their repertoire.
The four tracks on Daydreamer are cohesive, with the songs’ ends and beginnings maintaining a mid-tempo energy that doesn’t get old. The title track, as Semansky puts it, “embodies the vibe that the album is going for: daydreaming. It’s always fun to get lost in music, and I think our music allows you to get lost in the movement of your body.” It’s an interesting juxtaposition. When I think of daydreaming, I think of getting lost in my mind, but when I listen to Daydreamer, my mind quiets (a rare occurrence), my toe starts tapping, my head bobs, and I’m drawn into the music. Either way, the tracks on the EP demand attention, and I am happy to give it to them.
The introductions of each song play a large part in that. Balancing simple yet deliberate guitar riffs with the drums and the bass, the interplay between the lead guitar and the other instruments creates repetition that is simple enough to sing along. Though it is simple, the transparent texture allows the individual instruments to shine and gives you something to focus on, even after repeated listenings. The trio blends well when needed, but the musicians also shine on their own, in fact, that’s what Semansky wants people to pay attention to when they hear Daydreamer. “Listen to the way we fit together and how we all find our spots through each of the songs to uplift and support each other’s sounds,” Semansky says. “Every kick-drum smash is celebrated by every bass thwop which is celebrated by every minor third chord ringing out.”
On the first track, “She Want a Rock and Roll Guitar,” the guitar strums a chord in an even rhythm, then steps back and lets the bass play a more melodic line. “Fly Fly Away” is my favorite intro. It’s similar, but the unison guitar and bass line is more melodic, and the drums play intricate, asymmetrical fills that will make your jaw drop. The title track’s intro is different than the others. The guitar, solo at first, then later joined by the bass, plays a single melodic line rather than chords, and the hi-hat drives the pace forward. Then the final track, “Omaha Girls,” leads the EP out with a unison guitar and bass melody and a steady hi-hat beat. In all of their intros, The Del-Viles use simplicity to their advantage and let the instruments speak for themselves.
This straightforward arrangement is what captivates me when I listen to Daydreamer. Semansky mentioned that the band members often improvise and switch up their parts on each run-through. They really enjoy that, and it comes across in the music. Their energy is infectious, and while each take may not be the most perfectly polished, I’ll happily take my sea shanties “sloppy” if it means I’ll have a fun time listening to them. Even so, the instrumentalists have produced an EP that brings me back again and again.
You can find Daydreamer on Spotify and Bandcamp and hear more of The Del-Viles on their website. They’re also playing live shows where you can hear the latest tracks they’ve yet to record. Follow them on Instagram to see where they’re playing next.
