Del Water Gap - Chasing The Chimera

“I wish I could just have fun,” goes Del Water Gap, leading into a sax solo on ‘New Personality’, about halfway through his third studio album ‘Chasing The Chimera’. It’s a telling thought that follows a series of mid-tempo pop offerings with a far stronger singer-songwriter lean than what has come before. The driving indie rhythm of 2020 breakthrough ‘Ode To A Conversation Stuck In Your Throat’ or the synth-laden nostalgia of 2023’s comparably thrilling ‘I Miss You Already’ are at least temporarily retired in favour of melodic experimentations in Latin, jazz and funk - ones that, although catchy, don’t quite land with the same massive intention that has characterised much of Samuel Holden Jaffe’s work to date. 

At its best, ‘Damn’ makes a last-minute punt for high energy, whilst the slower ‘Eastside Girls’ delivers with welcome, retrospective charm, yet much of ‘Chasing The Chimera’ pulls back as Del Water Gap takes on isolation, confusion and regret. His search for fun, it seems, goes on.