The Man From Delmonte: Better Things
(Self Released)
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The Man From Delmonte finally release a debut studio album, Better Things, only 38 years after releasing their first single!
When the much-loved Manchester band announced in 2024 that they would be playing a handful of dates this year, I doubt any of them, nor the loyal fans who’ve kept the name alive, could not have imagined where we are now.
Stepping into a rehearsal room last October, it was the first time The Man From Delmonte, the quartet of Mike West, Sheila Seal, Martin Vincent and Howard Goody, had been in the same room together in 35 years. Actually, for ‘rehearsal room’, I should say Mike’s own Our Lady Studio in Borth, North Wales, which as it come to pass would incredibly allow the band the opportunity to all record together ‘live’ in the same space for the first time in their history… and here are the results.
Whilst there has been the excellent live release, Big Noise in 1989 and the superb 2000 Japanese compilation, The Good Things in Life, collecting singles, sessions, and a couple of unreleased demos, the band never recorded a full studio album. I did Google to see what the longest gap between debut single and studio album was, and to be honest, I couldn’t find anything, but I’m guessing 38 years must be some kind of record.
What I really like about Better Things is that it feels fresh; it doesn’t feel like a band getting back together and trying to revisit their past. In truth, there is a good reason for this… why there is a natural continuation of those releases from the 1980s other than it just being the same band.
Long term fans may notice when looking through the track listing that a number of tracks, such as the opening 222 Charles Barry Crescent and closing Lebanese American, both appeared as live recordings on VHS tapes back in 1990. Another couple of tracks, the magnificent Pink, dates back to the latter days of the original run of which a couple of demos of which have been floating around online for some time. The first single released from the album, Believe Me, is itself a never-completed and only relatively recently discovered, demo of Sheila and Mike’s post Delmonte project Surfurbia.
To be honest, there aren’t any weak tracks on the album, and the whole 12-track package is a triumph. If you didn’t know you wouldn’t know which are the ‘older’ tracks’ and which are new. The most ‘instant’ tracks for me are those with a hint of nostalgia, which I suspect will also resonate with others too. The Number One, Hey You and The International all have West revisiting his younger days in Manchester as well as life on the road. The highlight of the album for yours truly, is the aforementioned The International, which was also available in advance of release. From the first time I heard it I was transported back 40 years hence to my earliest days of gig going days, seeing the likes of The Soup Dragons, The Primitives and other indie staples, although thankfully I never had to make the long walk down Dickenson Road alone to get home…
Better Things will feel so familiar to people that after a couple listens, you’ll feel like it’s been in your collection for years. I can’t imagine any diehard The Man From Delmonte fans being disappointed with this, and for any one new discovering them for the first time it’s a great introduction to one of Manchester’s greatest ‘best kept secrets’.
Here’s hoping that this reunion will bear further fruit…
The official launch for Better Things is taking place on 15th November at Fountain Records, Unit 7, King Street, Stretford, M32 8AE at 1pm. There will be an acoustic gig and signing session as well as a limited free exclusive limited edition 7″ of album track Every Time b/w Drive, Drive, Drive (Live) with every copy of the vinyl or CD purchased.
The Man From Delmonte will be playing at 02 Manchester Ritz on Sunday 21st December. Remaining tickets available here
You can visit The Man From Delmonte here
All words by Iain Key. See his author profile here or find him via his LinkTree
You can hear Iain chatting to The Man From Delmonte for Louder Than War Radio here
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