Sun 1 Apr 2007
LEA VALLEY DELTA BLUES
Source: N16 MAGAZINE

Every minute of the wait for this most pristine of groups to perfect their sound has made it worthwhile. There are versions of favourite e.p. songs, with 'Replica' and 'This Place Is No Place For Harbouring Angels' brought into shimmering new life by the addition of Alexa Richardson's beauteous cello, while 'Isabelline' in particular benefits from the bluesy punch of Pete Bennett's (of N16 legends Monkey Island and The Dublo) guitar.

Familiar live songs like 'Zero One Zero One' are taken to new levels of January introspection and sadness, while newer tracks, like heartlfelt love song 'Faith Is Blind' and a tear-stained 'Stepping Out In Front Of Cars', simultaneously thrill and sadden, like the last drops in the bottom of the glass when closing time is long gone.

Two tracks in particular showcase the Bride's poetic mastermind Mark Pearson's talent for crafting seductive songs which graft themselves to the listener's souls.

There can be no justice if 'Time Delay' isn't gracing a cinematic soundtrack before long, as it rises and falls while deftly charting the course of the heartache; but it's 'Mother Hackney' which gets sung out throatily as a breezy encore, a love/hate anthem for a borough which should treasure Morning Bride.