The debut EP from Deary is a thing of real beauty. The London duo manage to evoke comparisons to the biggies here, but the sound is distinctive, and the presentation of the music assured. Deary is out on Sonic Cathedral this Friday. And while the year feels like it's slipping away, there's just enough time left to declare this one of the better releases of 2023.
"Heaven" roars and swoops with the kind of feel we heard on "Honey Power"-era MBV, but the spacious and elegant "Only Need" is even better. Dottie's vocals are sure to earn a reference or two to Liz Fraser, and that's less critics' shorthand, and more praise. The selection is as good as lots of what was on Heaven or Las Vegas, with a similar sort of melodic invention, and a wealth of well-chosen effects. Guitarist and producer Ben Easton is likely to get called the 21st century Robin Guthrie thanks to this one, and I think he might be happy with that.
The keyboard-anchored "Fairground" is here too, the number already familiar to fans, while cosmic "Sleepsong" shines brightly. This is big music, music that has reach. And while it would be easy for a band to get lost in their effects pedals while crafting this sort of thing, Deary do not. They wisely have a sound which seems fairly ambitious, even if it's indie in nature. There's lots here that reminds one of the best numbers from Slowdive, a band who've had Deary has support in recent years. Still, most attentive listeners will hear things here which call to mind the Cocteau Twins from 1990 to 1996. There's the same sort of sense of exploration and boundary-pushing, and the same sort of absolutely breathtaking vocals. Of the many bands who've attempted this since the Cocteaus called it quits, Deary seem to have come closest to replicating that kind of magic. And Deary has a magic about it that makes it one of the most enticing records of 2023.
Deary by Deary is out on Friday via Sonic Cathedral. Details below as well.
[Photo: Jacob McGarry]