Review DELVING “All Paths Diverge”

The music of “All Paths Diverge” is as colorful as the artwork created by Benjamin Butter. Delving’s second studio album is a musical kaleidoscope that takes the listener on a colorful journey through breathtaking soundscapes.

Delving is the side project of Elder‘s Nicholas DiSalvo, who used the unexpected free time during the pandemic to turn the idea of delving into reality. “Hirschbrunnen” is the title of the debut album, which was released in 2021, and three years later DiSalvo and his bandmates found time to make a second album a reality. DiSalvo is joined by Michael Risberg (Elder, Weite), Ingwer Boysen (Weite) and Uno Bruniusson (Maggot Heart), an experienced group with a fascination for multifaceted music.

Highlighting each song individually is only half the story, as the whole workpiece is the hero. The various twists and layers are the special treat that comes with the album and acts as the common denominator that holds all seven songs together.

“All Paths Diverge” lasers in more on the progressive side of music, leaning towards ambient, while its psychedelic vibe is the extra ingredient for songs like the stellar “Zodiak”. Clocking in at 13 minutes, the song is not only the longest by far. It is also a composition that incorporates much of what Delving stands for. The progressive and rather lighthearted beginning is reminding of some 70s prog veterans, including a few Krautrock references. But the song has much more to offer, including a rather atmospheric and ambient driven transition towards the end of the song. It feels like some clouds appearing in front of the sun with the colors slowly fading to a grayish tone.

“All Paths Diverge” features seven songs that create a tapestry of sound that shines immediately and there is still a lot to explore with each listening session. This album actually doesn’t even need vocals as it is the music itself that creates the storyline. These songs are the counterpart to the hectic daily life and emotionless pop music. Instead, we are confronted with music that goes straight to the heart, leading to an eargasm.