Bonds (Deluka, 2014)

I was first introduced to indie dance-rock band Deluka when I heard "Come Back to Me" (off their 2010 album, You Are The Night) beckoning to me over the Macy's in-store playlist. The evocative lyrics, along with Ellie Innocenti's captivating voice and distinct British accent, made for an irresistible imperative. Their earlier song, "Sleep Is Impossible," was also featured in the hit 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV, but it never came on the in-game radio during my admittedly brief time playing.

In the four years since You Are The Night, the originally-from-Birmingham Deluka relocated from Brooklyn to LA, where they assumed residencies at a few venues, and released a handful of songs directly to the Internet. They continue to work on their full-length followup to the impressive You Are The Night, but, in the meantime, they have put out a new five-track EP, Bonds.

Led by the single "Home," the record is an intriguing mix of traces of the disco-punk flavor of Deluka's earliest work, some evocative indie pop rock along the lines of "Come Back to Me," and even a tinge of heartland sound. And the music is carried all the way by the rich and bluesy singing of frontwoman Ellie Innocenti, which manages the rare combination of sounding both commanding and vulnerable.

http://youtu.be/cZ54Ue-HGcU

Deluka will be playing in San Diego this Tuesday, August 26, 2014, at Soda Bar.