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Following supporting slots with Ray Lamontagne, Ellie Goulding and Martha Wainwright, the Scouse country/blues woman Delta Maid releases her debut album.
Influenced by Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and of course numerous Liverpudlian musical greats, Delta makes no attempt to hide her influences over the course of the album, but spins them in a contemporary and fresh way.
The 26-year-old croons over her unique and mellifluous acoustic finger picking style and shockingly in the recent musical landscape, writes her own lyrics.
The album kicks off with Broken Branches, a light, blues track which shows off her Mississippi tones and melodious voice.
By the time second track Spend a Little Time, country purists will be tapping their feet along to Delta’s sardonic take on modern fame and Footballer’s Wives culture, which really sets the album off.
All I Dreamed continues in the same vein, a modern song with a hint of bourbon and the old West thrown in for good measure.
Delta shows off her songwriting talent with Running On Empty and Loves Grows Cold, with slightly dark and pessimistic lyrics, which come straight from the heart.
Maybe this album shouldn’t work. A Liverpool lass singing American country blues, acoustic guitar strung over her shoulder can seem a little contrived.
But Delta pulls it off, her lyrics mix the traditional with the modern and she steers the listener well away from thinking her a lazy imitation.
Outside Looking In oozes talent and depth, mixing it up with upbeat foot stompin’ numbers, to more bluesy ballads. This will hopefully act as the springboard for a sophomore album and a long, illustrious career much like her idols.
Outside Looking In is available now