Song Review: Dalmas – Draw The Line

By Jeanette Arsenault

One of the great things about what I do on this side of “the pond” is discovering music in a foreign land with fresh ears. If I am reviewing a Canadian band or artist, then there is a greater chance I may have heard of them or at least one of the members in their band.

I don’t usually listen to rock and have never heard of the Manchester band, Dalmas, so it allows me to listen to their new song, *Draw The Line* with an open mind and listening ear.

My impression on my first listen is that they are a tight band, well-crafted song and production is good.

I decide to read some of the reviews on them and it sounds like they are a band to watch.

“Superb isn’t it, predicting big thing” – Chris Hawkins, BBC 6 music

“Anthemic….can’t argue with that” – BBC Introducing.

Ok – you’ve got my attention. BBC has good credibility so I listen to the song again on Soundcloud with a more discerning ear. It’s a good rock song with a very cool arrangement – I like when it takes a little detour musically then comes back.

Then I listen to the “Rooftop Session” on their Facebook page. Now that impresses me! It shows that the singer has really great chops & the song rocks with just the guitar – good player, too. A song has legs if it can be reduced to single instrument & voice – and this is a great version. I listened more attentively to the lyrics. I like the melody and as for the lyrics:

“I can see you dancing in the street that’s in my head”

Nice opening line. Paints a picture & grabs my attention then I get confused as to what the song is about. Who is the song about? Are they in love? Did they break up? There are some more good lines though that grab my attention:

“I showed you who I am

Why can’t this be the end

Through your empty body

Your fragile skin erodes my pain tonight”

Still don’t know what it all means but maybe you don’t have to in rock music because it’s all about the music and the in-your-face beat of the song that demands you join in. Apathy is not an option – like it/don’t like it but feel something!

So I continue reading through their bio, EPK and interviews and I see them explain it this way:

“The song tells the story of a person who is having a recurring dream about someone from their past life, maybe a ghost or a real person? The ghost keeps re appearing and the person having the dream plea’s with them to leave them alone. ‘I showed you who I am, why can’t this be the end?’ shows the suffering of the person telling the story.”

Oh. Ok. I get it, Kind of sort of I do. But that doesn’t really matter in the end. The music is driving, the singer can really sing, the band is really good and it will make heads bop and bodies move so that’s the best kind of review a band can ask for.

I put this one on my “I Like This Song” list because they impressed me with their rooftop session. I saw their Lockdown version but it seemed like there were synching issues in different spots. However, when the full band came wailing in – it rocked.

Have a listen and decide for yourself.

Soundcloud