Baby Heavyweight (LP)

Baby Heavyweight born in a kitchen in Switerzerland, is Delaney Davidsons 11th solo album. Somewhat more groovy than his previous releases this is the second album he has made with Merk. Building on the smooth depth off the previous work and taking it into a new realm of story telling and emotive music.

Delaney pitches himself headlong into the realm of shaman and trickster, navigating themes of trauma, loss, heartache, poison and cynicism and love, reinventing himself song after song to give a fuller and more multifaceted picture then we have ever seen of him before. Collapsing roles as quickly as they are introduced the albums fluidity and movement is at times cathartic and others polemic.

The theme of Lucifer seeking his own redemption through recontextualising his past is the strongly themed undercurrent that weaves the albums 13 songs together. Universal concepts such as coming to terms with the roles we have been cast, learning to see our own trials as heroic, accepting love and surrendering the anger that masks the pain are abundant.

Charting through a heady mix of influences spanning Gershwin through Tone Loc to Italian folk renaissance, Delaney weaves a circular story of the hero's journey circling the full gamut of emotional experience. Featuring some interesting co writes with Kommi, Barry Saunders, Marlon Williams, Sean Wheeler ( LA's Westcoast skater punk scene), Tami Neilson and old Dead Brother Pierre Omer, Delaney shows again his diverse range of musical connections and versatility as both songwriter and collaborator.