I wouldn’t say Brighton’s Delta Sleep are genre-defying, but it’s fair to say that the 4 individual members are holding hands in a line each with a foot in a differently marked door. Sophomore album ‘Twin Galaxies’ could have ended up an absolute car crash, but it’s actually a coherent and at times deliciously enticing cross pollination of styles.

Utilising the discordant time signature changes so beloved of The Dillinger Escape Plan and their ilk, they apply that logic to a classic indie style that owes as much to the glory days of US college rock as it does the native sounds of the British Isles. Early Biffy Clyro is a glaringly obvious reference point but Delta Sleep are far from copyists. They’ve done a pretty job of taking their influences and jumbling them up into an engaging format that borrows a bit from here and a bit from there without ever over-egging the end product.

They have an uncanny ability to skip between styles within the space of a single song as well. ’21 Letters’ goes from big math-rock wig-outs to emo pleasantry before crashing forth into screeching discordance once more. Following such a genre-bender with the delicate interlude of ‘Aspetta’ is a genius stroke that shows a band who know how to play around with light and dark to great effect.

Delta Sleep are also rather canny when it comes to electro ambience, it would seem. ‘Spy Turtles’ is utterly glorious as an exercise in gentle atmospherics and whilst I doubt the band were aiming for it being the album highlight, it absolutely is. Kudos is given for twinning it with ‘Spy Dolphin’, the albums poppiest moment, as well. As a pairing they sit beautifully together.

Delta Sleep have gone for a tricky sound and pretty much nailed it. Whether ‘Twin Galaxies’ lives long in the memory remains to be seen, but for now, it hits the spot with ease.

3.5/5

Twin Galaxies by Delta Sleep is out now on Big Scary Monsters.

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Words by Rob Fearnley.