Mr Luck & Ms Doom CD

Since breaking through 11 years ago, Portland, Oregon combo The Delines have crafted an attractive trademark 'country soul' sound that combines the lilting, desert drive heartache of Americana - an effect heightened by the southern drawl of singer Amy Boone - with Stax-style hazy horns, elongated Hammond organ chords, and warming grooves. It's a sound that can be as easily applied to downtempo numbers as more upbeat ones, with the widespread use of strings and less fashionable brass and woodwind instruments (flugelhorn anyone?). The band's latest full-length excursion may well be their most hard hitting, heart breaking and poignant set yet, with a polished take on their distinctive style only emphasising the quality of their musicality and Boone's expressive lead vocals.