The Delgados - 'Universal Audio'

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Yes, I know, me, the Delgados, etc., but it is actually really good - I did go through a brief period where I thought it was actually quite weak, but now I love it almost as much as Hate. Still think it's a bit of a warm up for an earth-shattering sixth album, but still... review up on Stylus tomorrow anyway.

It's out tomorrow. Give it a go, though it may take several goes before you really love it.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 19 September 2004 15:54 (twenty-one years ago)

how good is 'the great eastern'?!

― cºzen (Cozen), Sunday, 19 September 2004 15:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Not as good as "Peloton" or "Hate", but good nonethess.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 19 September 2004 15:58 (twenty-one years ago)

oh no you didn't!

― cºzen (Cozen), Sunday, 19 September 2004 15:59 (twenty-one years ago)

As for the new one, I'm glad they held back a bit this time because "Hate" was about as good as an overproduced album can get (except for "Let It Come Down", obv.), and I doubt they could have taken that sound any further.

The Delgados "Final Track on Album With Great Big Ending" streak continues in fine form with "Now and Forever".

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 19 September 2004 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I found it way less immediate than any of the last three were when any of them came out and I was concerned about this and now I think it may end up being my very favourite thing they've ever done. It feels like Catastrophe Waitress in terms of being an attempt to make something more (ha! ho! ha! you see) universally accessible, whereas B&S had to hi-fi up a tiny bit to achieve this the Delgados have strengthened their poptune-structures on a more basic fundamental level and shaved off the orchestration and kind of reached the same conclusion by ostensibly downsizing instead of, um, upsizing. And it is addictive and superb, The Great Eastern was desolation set to skyscraping UPS and Hate was desolation by way of big swirling autumnwinter spirallings, this is more rueful and resigned but maybe as a result more accepting and healthier, it is not going to crack up. It is taut and tight and kinetic and elastic and brilliant.

― Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Sunday, 19 September 2004 16:20 (twenty-one years ago)

that was nice, alex.

― Sean M (Sean M), Sunday, 19 September 2004 18:23 (twenty-one years ago)

It was nice of you to say it was nice, thanks.

It feels like an "after" album, it is bright'n'brisk expansive and crisp and clear and reflective like Vespertine or something (only not actually like Vespertine at all, clearly, and also better than Vespertine certainly). I agree with William that they maybe have an earth-shattering sixth in them, so long as it doesn't end up being a Yoshimi type-thing (who produced this one, also? I assumed it wasn't a Fridmann thing but I don't know)

― Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Sunday, 19 September 2004 18:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm about to run out and buy this hurrah! But it is still VERY VERY good. "Come Undone" should have been the single. "The City Consumes Us" is very nearly as perfect as the glorious "The Drowning Years" was. "Girls Of Valour" has SEXY SPROINGY BASS ACTION.

"Bits Of Bone" is a teensy bit of a mess, and it's really only that that makes me think that Peloton is perhaps a WEE bit better, but a few more listens to "Come Undone" which is very much like an improved "No Danger" may make me reconsider.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 19 September 2004 23:40 (twenty-one years ago)

i fear i can no longer be bothered with the delgados. the last album was ok but it's been a long time since i've been excited by one of their songs (probably "everything goes around the water")...

― the surface noise (slight return) (electricsound), Sunday, 19 September 2004 23:48 (twenty-one years ago)

ARGH. It is "Get Action" that is like "No Danger". Dear me, it's only taken me two years to turn into someone who froths at the mouth and becomes unintelligible on the subject of The Deglados. This is your doing, Swygart.

― edward o (edwardo), Sunday, 19 September 2004 23:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I love it. But when they tour, will they still have the strings:? And if so, will they adorn the new songs?

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Monday, 20 September 2004 01:33 (twenty-one years ago)

My band is opening for them in Chicago! I'm quite excited.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 20 September 2004 04:38 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=2349

Every word is true, obviously.

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 20 September 2004 11:43 (twenty-one years ago)

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