You See Colours

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You See Colours
Multiple strands of jelly bracelets; one portion in a straight line, while the other is looping around it
Studio album by
Delays
Released6 March 2006
Recorded2005
Studio
GenreIndie rock, pop
Length40:08
LabelRough Trade
ProducerGraham Sutton
Delays chronology
Faded Seaside Glamour
(2004) 		You See Colours
(2006) 		Everything's the Rush
(2008)
Singles from You See Colours
  1. "Valentine"
    Released: 20 February 2006
  2. "Hideaway"
    Released: 9 May 2006

You See Colours is the second studio album by British rock band the Delays. It was released on 6 March 2006. The band released their debut studio album Faded Seaside Glamour in early 2004; by the year's end, they had 40 songs for its follow-up. Due to keyboardist Aaron Gilbert losing the only copies of their demos, frontman Greg Gilbert decided to let the other members contribute to writing. You See Colours was recorded across three studios (Real World, Rockfield, and Dustsucker Sound), with producer Graham Sutton. Focusing on indie rock and pop songs, You See Colours spotlight's Gilbert's vocals.

You See Colours received generally favourable reviews from critics, some of whom praised the musicianship. The album charted at number 24 in the United Kingdom, while its singles "Valentine" and "Hideaway" charted at number 23 and 35, respectively. Preceded by two tours of the UK, one in late 2005, and the other in early 2006, "Valentine" was released as the lead single on 20 February 2006. The Delays then toured the UK again, before playing festivals in Europe, and returning to embark on another UK tour. "Hideaway" was released as the second single on 9 May 2006.

Background[]

The Delays released their debut studio album Faded Seaside Glamour in April 2004.[1] It charted at numb 17 on the UK Albums Chart. All of its three singles – "Hey Girl", "Long Time Coming", and "Nearer Than Heaven" all reached the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, with "Long Time Coming" peaking the highest at number 16.[2] In October 2004, the band embarked on a tour of the United Kingdom; one show saw them debut six new songs.[3] The non-album single "Lost in a Melody" was released in November 2004, charting at number 28 in the UK.[2][4]

At the end of the year, frontman Greg Gilbert said the band had 40 songs for their next album, which was expected for release in early 2005 under the name Action Reaction.[5] By April 2005, the album was reported for release later in the year.[6] They eventually accumulated 100 songs; keyboardist Aaron Gilbert lost the only copies on the band's demos, forcing Greg Gilbert to let the other members take the writing reins.[7] You See Colours was recorded at Real World Studios, Rockfield Studios, and Dustsucker Sound, with producer Graham Sutton. Sutton and Robbie Nelson acted as engineers; the former later mixed the recordings at Dustsucker.[8]

Composition and lyrics[]

Musically, the sound of You See Colours has been described as indie rock.[9] In contrast to the guitar-centered sound of Faded Seaside Glamour, You See Colours relied on pop songs and the catchy melodies that highlighted Gilbert's vocals.[10] Entertainment.ie described the album as "a flurry of Fleetwood Mac songs sung in the style of a teen Brett Anderson [from Suede] with an '80s twist."[11] Six of the album's tracks – namely, "You and Me", "Valentine", "Too Much in Your Life", "Winter's Memory of Summer", "Lillian", and "Waste of Space" – were credited to both Greg and Aaron Gilbert, while the remainder were written solely by Greg Gilbert. The band had help with the arrangements of some of the songs from Trevor Horn ("Valentine"), Duncan Lewis ("Hideaway"), and Jon Kelly ("This Town's Religion" and "Given Time"). Sutton, who helped with some of the synth arrangements, contributed to programming throughout the album.[8]

You See Colours opens with "You and Me", which features strings in the style of Sigur Rós.[12][13] The synth part in the song sets the tone for the rest of the album, separating it from Faded Seaside Glamour, and earning a comparison to A-ha. It concludes with 15 seconds of guitar feedback, alongside bells.[14] "Valentine" is a disco and electronica song; its lyrics were influenced by the band encountering a hurricane while on tour in the United States.[13][15][16] The synth line that opens the song gives way to dance-inspired drums and funk-like scratchy guitar parts.[14] The guitar parts in "This Town's Religion" recalled those by U2.[13] "Too Much in Your Life" begins as rock-esque track, before shifting into a slow-paced tempo with soft guitar strums and drums.[14] "Winter's Memory of Summer" has jangly guitarwork.[17] "Given Time" has a Pixies-indebted bassline, and recalls the work of the La's.[18][19] "Hideaway" is, for the most part, an indie rock song with 1980s vocal harmonies, until its minute, where it becomes a psychedelic freakout.[9] "Lillian" is an indie track, anchored by an electro background.[7] The album's closing track, "Waste of Space", is piano-driven.[9]

Release[]

In October 2005, the Delays embarked on a tour of the UK.[20] On 19 October 2005, You See Colours was announced for release in five months' time. In February and March 2006, the band toured across the UK again.[21] Some of the dates had to be cancelled due to Gilbert suffering from a throat infection.[22] "Valentine" was released as a single on 20 February 2006; the 7" vinyl version included "Talking Me Down".[23][24] Two versions were released on CD: the first with "Someday Soon You're Gonna Happen", while the second featured "Shadows on Our School", a remix of "Valentine", and the music video for "Valentine".[25][26]

The Delays went on a tour of the US alongside Franz Ferdinand and the Futureheads.[27] You See Colours was released on 6 March 2006, through Rough Trade Records.[13] The Japanese release, jointly done by Rough Trade and Reservoir Records, included "Someday Soon You're Gonna Happen", "Shadows on Our School", "Talking Me Down", and the music video for "Valentine" as bonus tracks.[28] The band toured the UK, before playing a series of festival shows across Europe.[22] In August and September 2006, the band appeared at V Festival, played in Mexico, and went on a UK tour.[29][30]

"Hideaway" was released as a single on 9 May 2006; the 7" vinyl version included a cover of "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" (1980) by John Lennon.[31][32] Two versions were released on CD: the first with "Broken Pylons", while the second featured "Aglow Like Honey", a remix of "Valentine", and the music video for "Hideaway".[33][34]

Reception[]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic73/100[35]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic2.5/5 stars[9]
Drowned in Sound6/10[17]
Gigwise4/5 stars[13]
God Is in the TV4/5[14]
musicOMH4/5 stars[36]
NME7/10[37]
The Observer4/5 stars[38]
PopMatters7/10[18]
StylusB[39]
Yahoo! Launch7/10 stars[40]

You See Colours was met with generally favourable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 73, based on eight reviews.[35]

God Is in the TV writer Ross Fairhurst praised the production as being "absolutely superb" with its subtle layers of instrumentation.[14] Nick Southall of Stylus complimented the "fantastically produced" album, with a sound that is "exquisite, futuristic and clean".[39] musicOMH contributor Jeremy Lloyd found it to be a "more coherent collection of songs" since their debut album, with "at least eight numbers here that would effortlessly sail into the upper echelons of the chart".[36] Gigwise's Lee Glynn said it was a "surprisingly sound-uncompromising album", with the band having crafted a release that is "mature enough to stand on its own rather than be weighed down by comparisons to their last offering".[13] AllMusic reviewer Sharon Mawer noted that the album had "more numbers" in the vein of "Lost in a Melody" where it has a "driving beat and a recognizable verse-chorus-verse that built to a crescendo and then musically fell off the edge, only to build again".[9]

The Observer editor Paul Mardles wrote that the album has an "electronic pulse that, though disconcerting on the first few listens, complements the group's trademark blissful harmonies".[38] In a review for NME, Mark Beaumont noted that "Gilbert has sharpened his pop stiletto blade" since their last album. He added that "[n]o slack, no tack, no looking back: in career as in phosphorescent vocals, Delays soar above".[37] Yahoo! Launch's James Marshall saw the album as a "delicious pop confection".[40] PopMatters writer Ian Cohen said that the album's "high points" prop it up to "an unattainable standard for the rest of the album", causing it to fee a "bit unbalanced".[18] Tom Edwards of Drowned in Sound said the band had "found themselves at a loose end", adding that they should be praised for "meeting this challenge head on". He called it "such a strong façade [...] that it’s only after a few listens that you realise it’s not much more than a confidence trick".[17]

You See Colours peaked at number 24 in the UK. "Valentine" charted at number 23, while "Hideaway" reached number 35.[2] Obscure Sound ranked the album at number 50 on their list of the best albums of the year.[10] Stylus included "Valentine" at number five on their list of the 50 best singles of the year.[41]

Track listing[]

Writing credits per booklet. All recordings produced by Graham Sutton.[8]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You and Me"
  • Greg Gilbert
  • Aaron Gilbert
4:43
2."Valentine"
  • G. Gilbert
  • A. Gilbert
4:52
3."This Town's Religion"G. Gilbert3:08
4."Sink Like a Stone"G. Gilbert3:05
5."Too Much in Your Life"
  • G. Gilbert
  • A. Gilbert
4:38
6."Winter's Memory of Summer"
  • G. Gilbert
  • A. Gilbert
3:10
7."Given Time"G. Gilbert3:00
8."Hideaway"G. Gilbert3:48
9."Lillian"
  • G. Gilbert
  • A. Gilbert
3:01
10."Out of Nowhere"G. Gilbert2:46
11."Waste of Space"
  • G. Gilbert
  • A. Gilbert
3:57
Total length:40:08

Personnel[]

Personnel per booklet.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ "Faded Seaside Glamour - Delays | Release Info". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Delays | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Sunshine in the City". NME. 23 October 2004. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  4. ^ "House Music!". NME. 29 October 2004. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Delays Predict a 'Thriller'". NME. 1 December 2004. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Delays Expected in Central London". NME. 2 April 2005. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Lawrence, Kate. "Review of Delays - You See Colours". BBC Music. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d You See Colours (booklet). Delays. Rough Trade Records. 2006. RTRADCD214.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Mawer, Sharon. "You See Colours - Delays". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Mineo, Mike (18 December 2006). "Best Albums of 2006: #50 to #41". Obscure Sound. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Delays - You See Colours". Entertainment.ie. 2006. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Delays - You See Colours". OOR (in Dutch). 6 March 2006. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Glynn, Lee. "Delays – 'You See Colours' (Rough Trade)". Gigwise. Archived from the original on 28 June 2006. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Fairhurst, Ross (6 March 2006). "Delays - You See Colours". God Is in the TV. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Delays - You See Colours". NME. Archived from the original on 27 April 2006. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  16. ^ Wong, Gillian (11 May 2006). "You See Colours by Delays". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b c Edwards, Tom (24 March 2006). "Album Review: Delays - You See Colours / Releases". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b c Cohen, Ian (24 March 2006). "Delays: You See Colours". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  19. ^ Nugent, Joanne (20 February 2006). "Delays | You See Colours Album Review". Contactmusic.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  20. ^ "More Delays". NME. 6 July 2005. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Delays confirm 2006 tour". NME. 19 October 2005. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b "Revenge of the south". Dorset Echo. 8 April 2006. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Delays - Valentine: music video". musicOMH. Archived from the original on 25 March 2006. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Valentine" (sleeve). Delays. Rough Trade Records. 2006. RTRADS 265.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ "Valentine" (sleeve). Delays. Rough Trade Records. 2006. RTRADSCD265.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ "Valentine" (sleeve). Delays. Rough Trade Records. 2006. RTRADSCDX 265.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ "Delays". DIY. 2 March 2006. Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  28. ^ You See Colours (sleeve). Delays. Reservoir/Rough Trade Records. 2006. TOCP-66561.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ "New bands for V Festival". NME. 21 March 2006. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  30. ^ "Delays find themselves big in Mexico". NME. 7 September 2006. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  31. ^ "Hideaway, Pt. 1 - Delays | Release Info". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  32. ^ "Hideaway" (sleeve). Delays. Rough Trade Records. 2006. RTRADS 336.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. ^ "Hideaway" (sleeve). Delays. Rough Trade Records. 2006. RTRADSCD336.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ^ "Hideaway" (sleeve). Delays. Rough Trade Records. 2006. RTRADSCDX336.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  35. ^ Jump up to: a b "Critic Reviews for You See Colours". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  36. ^ Jump up to: a b Lloyd, Jeremy (6 March 2006). "Delays – You See Colours | Album Reviews". musicOMH. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  37. ^ Jump up to: a b Beaumont, Mark. "Delays - You See Colours". NME. Archived from the original on 14 April 2006. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  38. ^ Jump up to: a b Mardles, Paul (19 February 2006). "Delays, You See Colours | Music". The Observer. Archived from the original on 21 September 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  39. ^ Jump up to: a b Southall, Nick (14 March 2006). "Delays - You See Colours". Stylus. Archived from the original on 23 March 2006. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  40. ^ Jump up to: a b Marshall, James (13 March 2006). "Delays - You See Colours". Yahoo! Launch. Archived from the original on 9 September 2006. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  41. ^ "Stylus Magazine's Top 50 Singles of 2006 - Article". Stylus. 11 December 2006. Archived from the original on 2 January 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2021.

External links[]

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