It's been more than 20 years since Sims Delaney-Pothoff founded the Madison gypsy swing outfit Harmonious Wail. Over the years, he's used his formidable talent as a mandolin, guitar and ukulele player to shape the sound of one of Madison's most enduringly creative bands.
On Resist Temptation, Harmonious Wail has assembled a collection of originals and interpretations of rock songs by artists such as Tom Waits, the Velvet Underground, the Band and Steely Dan.
The album is a testament to the ensemble's confidence and instrumental prowess. Every track is a spacious and airy composition. Strings, upright bass and the sultry vocals of Maggie Delaney-Pothoff are all heard with astonishing clarity.
The blending of Eastern and gypsy musical traditions on "Lung Shan Temple Chant" is a highlight of the disc.
Resist Temptation has been distributed nationwide. It's been played on National Public Radio. And it will likely stand as one of the most significant jazz albums exported from Madison in a long time.
