Stuart Rolfe and the Daylight Stealers – No Gas, Lost Roads (2021)
With their EP No Gas, Lost Roads, Stuart Rolfe and the Daylight Stealers are taking us all back in time to the big band era of country music. With a unique sound that was born from their passion for the music, the band takes you on a journey through influences and stories. If you have been looking for something that draws on big stadium tour sounds while adding a unique and fresh touch, this is the EP for you.
Stuart Rolfe started his journey in music at a young age but turned his talents to pubs and restaurants for many years. While life led him in a different direction, music still held a place in his heart. In 2016, the world turned in his favour when he successfully auditioned for Country2Country which drew him into the world of sessions musicians. Now, with a collective of other professionals in the Daylight Stealers, he is bringing their passion to our ears.
The EP opens with the title track ‘No Gas Lost Roads’ which hits you with this wonderful rock-country tone from the first moment. Rolfe’s vocals have a soulful feeling with a touch of knowing something that you don’t. The country vibes of the music are wonderfully merged with a more folk-rock vibe which is a great introduction to their sound. There are great vocal harmonisations throughout the single that makes you think of arena and festival performances where you want to sing along with the band. Through the lyrics, you are taken on a journey of escaping after a breakup.
‘Quarter Mile’ has a more grounded feeling to the opening with light tones that crest over the sonic horizon for a beautiful sunrise. There is a delicate feeling to the opening like the whispers of a new day. This gets a more swinging feeling as the guitars really hit and the vocals get into full swing. This musical movement sends your spirit soaring with the music. There is an amazing vibe to the track that has your brain filled with lights. The delicacy of the opening makes an appearance later in the track wrapped around a sense of awe in the vocals.
There is a different vibe to ‘Could Get Used To This’ which instantly puts a smile on your face with the opening guitar line. The music is paced and has you wanting to jump around to it. You could easily find yourself singing along to this track. Every element of the track is like a ray of sun that warms you. If you are going on a road trip, this is the song you need to blare as you fly down the long open road with the wind whipping through your hair. The lyrics are packed with feeling good with where you are while the vocals are infused with the blissful happiness of finding your spot in the world. There is a piano solo later in the song that you really need to look out for that makes you really get down to everything.
The EP comes to a close with ‘A Country Boy Can Survive’ which opens with sound samples before hitting you with the heaviest country vibes so far. While the rest of the tracks are a mixture of rock and country, this song takes you straight into the heart of funky country tones. There is a bounce to the musical flow that gets you bopping to it. You can almost see people line-dancing to this track while others have a great time in the country-theme pub. The solos in the track are wonderful to listen to and really make the song.
Stuart Rolfe and the Daylight Stealers blend country and rock for an infectious and fresh sound that as you bopping to their beats in No Gas, Lost Roads. Each track on the EP has its own energy signature that fills you with the pulsing lights of the story, emotions and passion the band has. From escaping to feeling at peace with where you are, the EP fills you with emotions while getting you hooked to a country sound.
Find out more about Stuart Rolfe and the Daylight Stealers on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
