Little Earl
The Delines return with their first new material since The Imperial
by Ancient Champion, Columnist
first published: October, 2021
first published: October, 2021
It's a chapter of American social realism that Vlautin fans will be familiar with
The Delines are back with a beautifully orchestrated new single, Little Earl. A taster from their February LP The Sea Drift which will be their first full length studio recording since 2019s massively acclaimed The Imperial. The country-soul inflected, Little Earl gives you of course, almost an entire Willy Vlautin novel, or at least a short story in one song. The protagonists are driving down the gulf coast and Little Earl's brother is bleeding heavily in the backseat of a car they shouldn't be in. Of course the AC doesn't work... It’s a chapter of American social realism that Vlautin fans will be familiar with. It's Holly the Hustle territory, as ever so gorgeous, with not even one extraneous note.
Of Amy Boone's vocal inflections, I can only say Oh My God. That's a voice that makes me want to misbehave, maybe get back to drinking tumblers of methadone behind Pomona bars. Midweek. Trying for a Bobby Gentry infused country feel, Vlautin says "It’s a soul/Tony Joe White inspired groove, and Cory Gray’s horn and string arrangements set the cinematic tone for two brothers who get into a shoplifting-gone-wrong incident at a mini-mart outside of Port Arthur, Texas." Of course they do. They could be living their best Motel Life, after all.
The video for “Little Earl” was shot by videographer Jordan Mosser in and around the town of Galveston, Texas. The video is shot entirely through the windows of a car driving around Galveston as day turns to night, mirroring the narrative of the song as Little Earl and his brother debate whether they should go to a hospital for help in the aftermath of their get rich quick scheme gone wrong. No shit they've been lauded in Uncut for their 'Widescreen romanticism.' You can feel the heat beating up off the tarmac from the very first bar.
The Delines describe the forthcoming The Sea Drift LP as “a collection of songs and stories found drifting up and down the Gulf Coast.” It’s the their first studio work together since Amy survived a car wreck that put her in hospital for several years. Willy said “‘The Sea Drift’ sessions were also the first time since Amy had been injured that she felt strong and confident in the studio, and you can really hear it on this record. There’s strength to her voice, the strength of someone who’s overcome a lot of trauma and pain.”
The Delines are touring in the UK next year. Hottest ticket in town for sure.
Image of Willy and Amy by Summer Luu
Ancient Champion
Columnist
Ancient Champion writes for OUTSIDELEFT, relentlessly records instrumental easy listening tracks, and is always completing the short story collection, Six Stories About Motoring Nowhere. More info at AncientChampion.com
about Ancient Champion »»
FREE TICKETS for OUTSIDELEFT's QUIET NIGHT OUT
featuring RM FRANCIS, KERRY HADLEY-PRYCE, JAY LEWIS, WAYNE DEAN-RICHARDS and WOODENHAND»»
It's a chapter of American social realism that Vlautin fans will be familiar with
the weekly guide to new releases
10 clickable things
☉ Denim ☉
Why a portrait artist from Ireland started making comics about U.S. police brutality ☉
Warner Bros Prop Archive ☉
Hollyweed Sign ☉
What can elephants, birds, and flamenco players teach a neuroscientist-composer about music? ☉
BOYCOTT University Challenge ☉
Bruce's Beach. Reparations really, or what? (NYT) ☉
Drag Shows are banned ☉
QPR: Promotion push to relegation fight, 474,000 a week losses and a rescue mission ☉
How to talk like a Chelsea coach ☉
RECENT STORIES
Adventures in the archives
RANDOM READS
What Readers are Reading Right Now
- Lost In Room
Outsideleft talks to original punk pioneer Mark Perry about the upcoming book on the early years of Alternative TV, hardback homicide, the curse of nostalgia, and Crass cufflinks. - Week in Los Angeles City of Death Music
We're hearing from... Swans, Def Leppard, Apache Rose, Jaz Coleman and Anne Dudley, TEKE::TEKE , African Head Charge, Mike Oldfield, Brian Krumm, Alibhe McDonagh with the RTE Concert Orchestra, Belle Scar, Pale Jay, Tinariwen, Tommy Drinkard, RVG, Teardrop Explodes, High Pulp, The Fierce and The Dead, Magnetic Skies, Ebi Soda, Ash Walker - Cease and Resist
Alan Rider talks to Chris Low of the Apostles about Crass, becoming an anarchist punk at 11, and breaking down musical barriers - Outsideleft Week in Music: The Inner Space Sounds from Way Out!
We're hearing from... Inner Space Quartet, Kid brunswick, Erland Cooper, Suicide, Josienne Clarke, 3l3d3p, Seerr, Creep Show, Hannah Peel, Foo Fighters, Tanlines, The Holy Family, Little Dragon, Eduard Artemiev, Oleg Buloshkin, Edison Denisov, Sofia Gubaidulina, Alfred Schnittke, Squid, ABC, NOIR, Joe Perry & Henge - In A Landscape
The continuing journey of Craven Faults - Many Happy Returns
ABC revisit their audacious pop masterpiece. - Track by Track: Dakota Jones' Heartbreakers Space Club
Brooklyn's Brightest Lights in Outer Space - This House
Another downpayment from Wayne Dean-Richards' It's a Mad World But Funny - Songs of Solitude and Singularity
Josienne Clarke's remarkable songbook, revisited - The Sunday Poet: Philip Larkin
Jay gets ready for the Spring Bank Holiday with a poetry reading
All About and Contributors
HELP OUTSIDELEFT
Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]
WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT
If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]
WRITERS thru' the Years
Agata Makiela, Alan Devey, Alan Rider, Alex V. Cook, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, David Hackney, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, DJ Fuzzyfelt, Dr. Rich, Dr. Richard Bennett, Duncan Jones, Erin, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Gracey Babs, Graham Baker, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, Jay Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jenny McCann, Jeremy Gluck, Jez Collins, Joe Ambrose, John Robinson, Julie O, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Lake, Lee Paul, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Meave Haughey, Michelle Williams, Mike Fox, mindy strouse, Neil Campbell, Neil Scott, Ogglypoogly, OL House Writer, Pam, Paul Hawkins, Paul Quigley, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Pixievic, Rene Williams, Rick Casson, Ronan Crinion, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Sheridan Coyle, Sofia Ribeiro Willcox, Sophia Satchell-Baeza, Spanish Pantalones, Speedie John, Spencer Kansa, Steve McCarthy, The Conversation, Tim London, Tim Sparks, Toon Traveller, Wayne Dean-Richards, and founders, Alarcon & LamontpaulWEEK IN MUSIC
OUTSIDELEFT UNIVERSE
outsideleft content is not for everyone