By Jase Walker
Delta Sleep play a huge role in how much I fell in love with math and post rock bands, and even more so after they dropped their ‘Spring Island’ album back in 2021. That year earmarked a huge change in my music journey and saw ArcTanGent become a true favourite festival in the process due to how far down the rabbit hole of these styles I fell. I’ve seen these guys do their thing quite a few times now so it’s not likely I’d pass off a chance to see them again and also get introduced to a band like Real Terms in the process.
2024 saw Delta Sleep drop their latest album, ‘Blue Garden’ also, which was a bit of a departure from their until then much more intense mathy sound in favour of a much more chilled and dreamy vibe. I don’t think they could have gone with a better venue for their style either: Patronaat in Haarlem feels like a sort of spiritual home for leftfield musical acts for me considering the amount of post-rock I’ve seen here. Tonight looks to be a cozy (or gezellig as the Dutch say) evening of good vibes and good music.
“We’re Real Terms, from Liverpool, and everything is going to be fine” is certainly a quiet and reassuring start.
The three-piece kicking off with familiar territory for me of groovy drums, unusual yet pleasant guitar melodies that jump around and sound as if they’re being played in reverse and singing that seems to run its own melodies by juxtaposition. This definitely feels a bit more abstract than just straight math rock and has a slightly weird element to it that sounds like a strong influence from a band like BATTLES.
Real Terms certainly pushes the boundary a lot with who is actually carrying the rhythm at times as their drummer doesn’t just groove but drops down to such minimal rhythmic work that it’s super impressive that he manages to keep in time. It’s always baffling how bands like this can keep in time so well when going through more complex parts that require keeping an ear out for any subtle changes in songs. Genuinely a super skilled group, these three, that are able to pull off their experimental take while keeping the songs melodic and interesting is fantastic.
Great support for a show like this and no doubt they’ll be back on their own merits too.
Prior to Delta Sleep starting, I notice they’re updated their stage look a bit this time round and gone are the various verdant drapery and plants and they’ve been replaced with several different sized orbs dotted around the stage. One thing that shines through a lot stronger in the live show so far to start is that there’s a subtle undercurrent of shoegaze in some parts in addition to the Delta Sleep vibe of matching melodies of guitar and vocals.
After a start through ‘Dawn’ and ‘Slow Burn’, we switch gears back to ‘The Softest Touch’ and the audience begins to pick up energy and dance along to the more upbeat ‘Spring Island’ song. ‘Lake Sprinkle Sprankle’ so early in the set is a bit of a surprise but clearly welcome by the crowd and also shows off Delta Sleep’s mastery at bizarre rhythms especially when the guitars bounce off each other in alternate timings.
There’s something deeply hypnotic about how Delta Sleep uses their melodies and while not “hooky” by a traditional sense, it’s incredibly engrossing and such a beautiful part of their sound. I do have to say though I really didn’t expect a mosh pit to suddenly start but Dutch audiences are still full of surprises to me even now I guess! ‘Hotel 24’ is another welcome part of the set as I’m such a huge Spring Island fan so won’t be wasting my chance to sing along.
Delta Sleep are truly sublime at how well they weave together beautiful melodies in such odd rhythms, it’s such a unique delivery that stands out to me above so many bands within the same niche. For ‘The Detail’, they’ve asked the audience very politely to separate for a “wall of high fives”, so very appropriate for these and it looks absolutely beautiful too, perfect for a show like this.
The set somewhat felt a bit short but by no means did this mean it was a disappointment. Delta Sleep are an incredible band that puts a lot into their performance and is easily one of the tightest bands around. Getting to see them at their own headline show over a shorter set at ArcTanGent is something I do not take for granted. The right band, with the right crowd, and a great setlist.
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