Delta Deep is a highly interesting constellation of extremely talented musicians (one of which is Phil Collen from Def Leppard fame) whose wonderful and melancholy-tinged blend of blues rock, gospel music, and classic rock with a strong southern edge to it is both highly evocative and moving.

 

This 11-track debut album of theirs was originally released back in 2015, but hopefully this 2018 re-issue via Frontiers will ensure that the band is exposed to an even wider audience, because these guys most definitely deserve some attention from all you fuckers out there. While the slow, pulsating "Whiskey" has a morose and introspective quality to it, "Down in the Delta" and "Shuffle Sweet" are utterly riveting and gripping affairs that rock like you would not believe. Those inhumanly brilliant vocals courtesy of Debbi Blackwell-Cook (Tesla) infuse the tracks with an otherworldly vibe and it is impossible not to be swept away by them. "Treat Her Like Candy" is a rather sweet and charming cut while "Burnt Sally" is spirited blues at its finest.

 

The musicianship is simply to die for here. Apart from the awesome guest appearances by rock royalty such as David Coverdale (Whitesnake), Joe Elliot (Def Leppard), Paul Cook (Sex Pistols), and Simon Laffy (Manraze), the entire Delta Deep ensemble is firing on all cylinders and it all sounds scorching hot, passionate, and exquisitely raw. Robert DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots) and Forrest Robinson (TLC) are a lethal rhythm section while Phil Collen’s playing is absolutely superb and covers everything from wild and raging to gentle and sorrow-filled. In that sense, it brings to mind the work of some of the greatest stylists to ever grace the face of the earth, namely Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page. Yeah, you read that right! Approach Delta Deep with an open mind and revel in its awe-inspiring atmosphere. Did I mention that the album contains a mesmerizing cover version of Deep Purple’s immortal "Mistreated"?

 

https://www.deltadeep.net/