The Deslondes dropped their last homegrown brand of New Orleans country and R&B in 2017 with Hurry Home. They’ve had plenty of time to concoct a new infusion and there’s a distinctly different thang going on here with Ways & Means (out July 8th, 2022 via New West Records).
As noted by Paul Woodgate in his live review for Folk Radio in 2015, “They have a tail of former bands and projects longer and brighter than most comets and a refreshing attitude towards blending the varied genres of American roots together in such a way as to render boundaries useless.”
As they demonstrated on their earlier ultra-cool upbeat single ‘Dunes‘, nothing was hurried, and that loose insouciance and relaxed swagger is still ever-present. ‘Five Year Plan‘ has a hazy West Coast feel, written during the lockdown, a time of cancelled tours and uncertain futures.
As with Dunes (video also included below), they called upon Director Joshua Shoemake to work his magic again as he did for their last album. He outdoes himself here in another beautifully executed one-shot video.
The album also features Margo Price on the title track, as well as Twain and the multi-instrumentalist Billy Contreras on multiple songs. Here is their earlier video for Dunes.
The Deslondes’ Ways & Means will be available across digital platforms, on CD, and standard black vinyl. A limited to 300 “Flambeaux” colour vinyl edition will be available via Vinyl Me, Please. A limited to 1,500 “Sun King” colour vinyl edition will be available at Independent Retailers and can be pre-ordered NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.
More details, inclusing US tour dates, can be found here: https://www.deslondes.com/