finetune artist: Delays

This Southampton, Hampshire, England-based indie rock band can trace its roots back to a 1996 meeting in a local club between Greg Gilbert (vocals), Colin Fox (bass) and Rowly (drums). The trio discovered shared musical interests and launched themselves on the local music scene under the less than inspiring name of Corky. Their attempts to tag onto the hip Britpop scene were going nowhere until they drafted in Greg's brother, Aaron Gilbert (keyboards), and changed musical direction. The newly minted Delays began crafting a sound that mixed straightforward indie rock with Cocteau Twins-style keyboards and loops, with Greg Gilbert's dynamic falsetto vocals adding an extra edge. Their music came to the attention of Geoff Travis of famed independent Rough Trade Records, and the quartet signed a recording contract with the label at the start of 2003. "Nearer Than Heaven" and "Hey Girl" made an impact that summer, as did the following January's "Long Time Coming". The singles helped build the hype around the band, whose resolutely unglamorous image was in keeping with the best traditions of UK indie rock. Faded Seaside Glamour, which was finally released in April 2004, struggled to live up to the high standard set by the singles.

Listen to Delays at Finetune.