CDReview: Rocco DeLuca and the Burdern, Mercy

Rocco Deluca and the Burden

Mercy

(Ironworks)

I awoke from a really deep sleep, thinking I had slept for ten or twelve hours; turns out it was more like six. Still, I couldn’t complain.  I looked at the clock and saw that it was a little past 9am. I rolled over in bed to find that Elle was not there. Maybe she had gone next door to her cabin for a change of clothing, I thought.

I could smell some sort of food just floating through the cabin. Elle must have made breakfast. I could was hungry and could eat a little breakfast. I got out of bed and walked into the kitchen area to find bangers and mash that she had prepared. Looking out the window towards her cabin, I noticed Elle’s H3 was gone; maybe she had went to the market I thought, then noticed my cowboy hat was missing and a sleeveless Union Jack tee shirt (like the one Joe Elliot wore in the Def Leppard videos all those years ago) in its place. Attached to it was a note. Long story short, she had a fulfilled two weeks with me, but it was time for her to return to work at the art gallery in England. She had taken my hat along with a Lone Star Beer tee, leaving me the Union Jack tee and the short board surfboard on which I caught my first wave. Sitting next to the shirt was a nice bottle of tequila and two cohiba cigars with instructions to enjoy the drink before breakfast and the cigars after finishing my writing and at a lovely sunset. And last but not least Elle had left her phone number and email info, ending the note with the suggestive question “same time next year?”

I smiled and had a slight chuckle at Elle’s note. Of course I would miss my lovely Brit, but would have our misadventures together as pleasant memories….and lucky we were never arrested! I eyed the breakfast she had prepared and took a bite of the mash mixed with crumbled bacon, green onions and topped with cheese. It was truly delightful, but for the moment I would put the food on hold as per Elle’s instructions. I grabbed the tequila, a cigar, and my laptop and took them to the patio where I would start typing a couple of CD reviews that I needed to finish. Before me was a bright sun on a bed of blue sky, and the brisk touch of a cool breeze. I put on my sunglasses and poured some tequila; the cohiba would have to wait until the article was complete.

The one ingredient missing was my music. I needed something to fit the moment and make me bind with it and make me really remember the moment no matter how much tequila slithered its way into my head. I wanted something a touch bluesy, soulful, and true; but also possessing enough rock to feel the edge. Nothing more could fit this moment than Rocco Deluca.

Rocco Deluca and the Burden may have turned the heads with his debut, but he and the band will still be turning heads and gaining full attention with Mercy. The sophomoric release finds Deluca teaming up with producer extraordinaire Daniel Lanois for this mystic blues journey. The music is rich and full, other times hazy and pleasant, and could easily be identified as music from a smoke filled lounge or a full size concert hall. Maybe such establishments are on course for his tour, but the main attention here is not the venues, but Rocco’s vocal work and the sounds of his electric dobro.

Deluca’s vocals are original, tried and true, with a Jeff Buckley influence which is evident; and which is good company to keep. It is complex, ethereal, beautiful and at times chilling—but in a beautiful way. His dobro also possesses and provides the same beautiful and chilling sound. Rocco’s use of the instrument on certain tracks is very creative. Both voice and dobro are rich in texture throughout Mercy. Vocally, for the most part of the release they are smooth, hazy and slightly wandering, and at other times piercing; and the electric dobro being low toned compliments his high vocal range, and brings an echoey and blues driven beat throughout most of the release, but also providing some precise and articulate rockin’ licks as well.

A reworked version of I Trust You to Kill Me is a prime example of Rocco Deluca’s textural structure. Dobro with some slide action has the spotlight on the song with its “down ‘n’ dirty” rhythm and sludgy beat. His vocals feature his atmospheric falsetto to sheer sharpness. Save Yourself is another song where Deluca’s dobro once again reigns, being the heaviest track on Mercy. He makes great use of the instrument combined with his vocals to set this song afire! Though medium paced in tempo, it is fierce in power.  Lilja is a surprise that finds Middle Eastern inspiration making friends with Rocco’s musical styling. The smoky and sultry female vocals in the beginning of the tune are downright sexy as hell! The song as a whole is like something out of Casablanca and is easily a beautiful lounge tune. Picture it this way: it is the bow on the total package….Rocco Deluca and the Burden are just that…

Upon finishing my reviews and emailing them to the editor of the magazine I poured one more shot of tequila and puffed what was left of my stogie. The sun was still resting on its bed of blue sky, now with an occasional flock of seagulls flying overhead. My time on the beach had been plentiful to say the least; I never expected to do so many different activities both here and abroad in such a short time! Soon, I would be departing for home. I put out the cigar, and then heated the bangers and mash Elle had prepared.  I decided to enjoy the meal on the deck and then pack my belongings for the trip home. Before leaving though, I needed to burn some of the carbs from the meal. So I decided on a three mile jog along the beach…so wish me luck that I do not step on any jellyfish…