'Management' by Delta Sleep

Management

by Delta Sleep

Release Date: 20th May 2013

Tracklist: 16:40am / Interlude / Jesus Bill! / Camp Adventure / Dustbusters / So Say We All //

When I first discovered Management, I wasn't sure what to think. If you've been keeping up-to-date with the music I listen to and post about then you'll probably realise it's slightly different to my standard go-to music tastes as of late. And, guiltily, when I head the first track I may have skipped it. But that just shows how much of an idiot I am, because the first track, 16.40am, obviously became one of my first tracks, along with Dust Busters, Jesus Bill! and Interlude. This EP is something that I just can't get enough of.

In essence, it's just math rock (I was told by one of my well informed friends, as I just couldn't work it out when I first listened to the EP). But they also incorporate other genres - such as folk in the track Camp Adventure, where they bring the piece back, strip back the texture slightly and give you what you expect from a title like Camp Adventure, a "camp fire song". Interlude was the first track that drew me to the EP and made me stay and listen to the rest. It has this slight electronic feel while also incorporating their stop-start rhythms and just little elements and intricacies that make their music slightly different.

Another of their little intricacies that they incorporate is the use of samples, most noticeably in the track Dustbusters where they are faded into and out of for the introduction and coda. Dustbusters is introduced with the sample before leading into the track, with a substantial amount of the track being instrumental, “Where am I going? And what do I want to happen?” The introductory sample being spoken word of a presenter, on what sounds like a radio show, discussing how you can re-evaluate your life. Taken from radio ads or shows, the samples used in Dustbusters seem to have no commonalities to each other, rather just adding a kind of quirkiness to the piece itself.

So Say We All is the concluding track on EP, which demonstrates, just as the other tracks on the EP have, their capabilities on their instruments and how they exploit and are not afraid to use their instruments to their full potential. Due to this instrumental exploitation in their music, they’ve created great and effective solely instrumental sections that flow easily into one another. This is a feature that is consistent through the release and is definitely a highlight. So Say We All is a great conclusion that feels as though it entirely summarises and concludes the EP both in a journey and through the mix of their genres.

Delta Sleep’s EP, Management, was a great find of 2016 and is going to be one of my favourite’s for the rest of this year, relishing in its quirkiness with every listen.