It feels like I’ve been waiting forever for Eliza & The Delusionals to release an album. I started writing about the band way back in 2018 and singles from this album like “You” and “Save Me” have been out in the world since 2021. However, as the old saying goes, good things come to those who wait. My expectations were high, but Now and Then exceeds them.
It’s hardly the band’s fault that this music has taken so long to reach us though. There was that little matter of the pandemic which made moving forward on so many projects challenging. It was made during the pandemic, but don’t mistake it for a “pandemic album”. It’s far more upbeat than that, focusing on the personal strength and resilience gained during the period than pervading doom and gloom.
Sitting with so many of these songs for so long makes the album feel instantly familiar. We’ve already fallen in love with Eliza’s powerful vocals and the way the band combines rock edge with catchy pop vibes. If you’ve somehow missed all those singles, it won’t take you too long to come up to speed. This music is so accessible, with nods to acts like Michelle Branch, The Cranberries, and even Taylor Swift. Album tracks that are brand new to me like “Lonely” and “All The Time” have become firm favourites.
Now and Then might have taken some time to reach us, but its shimmering optimism is the ideal antidote for the gloomy winter weather setting in. Before the season leaves us, they’ll be spreading their good vibes with capital city shows around the country. Catch them at the following venues:
6 August 2022 – Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney
11 August 2022 – Crown and Anchor, Adelaide
12 August 2022 – Mojos Bar Fremantle, Perth
26 August 2022 – The Zoo, Brisbane
3 September 2022 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Image used with permission from Beehive PR; credit: Luke Henery