The effervescent Delorentos returned to the forefront of the Irish music scene with the release of Little Sparks in November 2011. The four track EP was released to celebrate the six-year anniversary of the Leave It On EP, their first foray into the Irish music scene. The EP is accompanied by a colourful 40 page magazine which in their own words was an “attempt to embrace and respect creativity in Ireland.”
The lead single, Did We Ever Really Try, is a song of the same quality that we’ve come to expect from the Dublin-based four-piece. Lyrics which become instantly memorable are something of a forté for Delorentos and this song is no different. A simple keyboard sound opens the song. Punctured by a crashing of drums, it immediately catches the attention of the listener who is quickly drawn in by the sumptuous synth and catchy chorus.
The drumming talents of Ross McCormick are somewhat underrated in musical circles but on this EP, he displays his vast array of skills to devastating effect. The galloping sound of his drum kit are the most noticeable aspect of Hunting, a song which delivers a slightly new sound for Delorentos as they delve into the depths of stadium rock.
As they proved on the final track (I Remember) of their last release, You Can Make Sound, there is something hauntingly beautiful about the harmonies of Kieran McGuinness and Ronan Yourell. The opening lines of 15-21 are a prime example of their ever-growing confidence in those harmonies. 15-21 is a toe-tapping tune courtesy of Níal Conlan’s breathtaking bass and powerful vocals provided by McGuinness. The song is reminiscent of Editorial in that it has the potential to be a hidden gem.
The EP closes with Door Left Open, a song which doesn’t instantly catch one’s attention but can be firmly placed in the “It’ll Grow On You” pile. Despite being well-known for the infectiously upbeat tunes like Secret and Sanctuary, there’s no doubt that Delorentos are capable of occasionally writing a song which pulls on the heartstrings of its listener and even if it may not have the same pure emotion as previous efforts, this song is another example.
Delorentos have come on in leaps and bounds since the release of Leave It On in 2005 and this latest offering is proof of that. Their 3rd album, which will also be called Little Sparks is set for release on the 27th January 2012 and based on this evidence, you don’t want to miss it.