Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By D.E.L, Gatcombe Music Pty Ltd 2023.
Information about D.E.L is extremely hard to come by. The limited research I’ve done has led me to conclude that he/she/they are multi-media artists who have an interest in lo-Fi recording, sub-cultures, music and art, and Japanese Manga.
They incorporate all of these influences into art works that include music videos that explore and present multiple aspects of the Millennial identity.
I have received these two singles, One Track Mind and Purple, and they are both quite interesting, even for someone who is well beyond Millennial.
Despite having only recently coming across them, D.E.L has been around for some time. There are 34 videos on the band’s web page dating back to 2019.
Their music could best be described as electro-pop with elements of J-pop and dream/trance thrown into the mix.
This is not usually my scene but I found One Track Mind rather entrancing and so I gave them a second and third listen.
Lyrically it seems sparse, with the repeated chorus “I’ve got a one track mind hoping to fly, I belong in the sky, me myself and I ” dominating the lyric.
Although there are few words it’s the way that they are presented that draws the listener in.
I was beguiled by the dream-like music and alternate female and male vocals.
Purple is much more lyrically dense but it still has the floating dreamy quality of One Track Mind.
I listened to a variety of the 34 tracks they have on their site and while some of them are more rhythmically complex and grounded than the songs reviewed here there is still overall spaciousness to them that seems to be their signature sound.
If electro-pop is your thing you probably already know a lot more than I do about D.E.L, if you too are new to them they are worthwhile exploring.
Millennial electro-pop for non-Millennials.
