The inestimable Belgium outfit Delwood impressed me so much with their self-titled 2021 album that I couldn’t waste any time before diving headfirst into the six songs that make up this follow-up and most recent LP.
A bit more involved in the area of electronics than their debut, Dis-locations tackles life, society and human relationships, where thoughts about the current state of the world are met with all sorts of ideas and sounds in and around the rock spectrum.
The meticulous and shimmering “Lo & Behold” opens and sets the mood with bouncy bass lines, expressive singing and agile drumming courtesy of Alex Brull for this unique version of indie-rock. “The Flooding” follows and recruits plenty of post-rock nods via the thumping drums, intricate bass work and electronics that provide a nearly eerie backdrop.
The middle tracks offer us “The Shipwrecked” and “The River.” The former carries a lower register before the playful drumming and spacey electronics flow alongside Greg and Ju Dubois’ gorgeous bass talents, while the latter is more vocally focused, where vivid storytelling is complemented by the mesmerizing rhythm section.
Arriving close to the end, the soft singing of “God Knows” builds into thicker ideas that flirt with prog-rock and calm-versus-louder dynamics. “Breaststroke Swimming” then exits with sound manipulation and plenty of cinematic swells that unfold with precise, dynamic songwriting that swirls with an inimitable energy.
Definitely making a sonic leap forward here, Delwood make a not-so-subtle observation about the world today with this album title, and the music is an exciting blend of indie-rock, alt-rock, post-punk, prog-rock, psychedelic and even jazz ideas.
At just over 30 minutes, the listen does leave us wanting more; fortunately there’s also another studio album plus a live set available to enjoy.
