The Delgados - 'Hate' (Mantra)
4/5
By: Toby L
Within the first twenty seconds, The Delgados' intent for fourth-LP 'Hate' is somewhat simply uncovered: the bold hugeness and beauty of former LP 'The Great Eastern', interlocked with the stubborn spookiness of their more obscure moments. And, obviously, the result is entirely brilliant.
Still naggingly one of the world's greatest, hidden treasures, 'Hate' is a sumptuous example of The Delgados' unique and shockingly ear-pleasing ability to merge the heart-rending heights of classical-music with the brisk harshness of epic indie-rock. The fact that within Alun Woodward and Emma Pollock they have two of Britain's most distinctive and complementary singing-voices as well, ensures that this package is one truly unmissable.
If not immediately bowled over by the choral-parts and grandeur-dripping strings of 'The Light Before We Land', then it's the amusingly playful refrain of the following 'All You Need Is Hate' that'll capture your imagination, Woodward's unabashed and subtle vocal working its way into your skull, whilst 'Woke From Dreaming' and its lilting piano is every bit as infectious and dazzling as music gets.
Due to its compact, ten-track running-order, the product is a short one, ensuring much of its immediacy and grace, the notion of over-production skilfully swerved away from. When the sweeping violins, demanding drums, chiming guitar and thumping bass collide together, a heavenly harmony is the consequence, with 'The Drowning Years' a perfectly moody piece of evidence for such accusations. As if such serenity wasn't enough, the cultured-pop of 'Coming In From The Cold' may prove even more grabbing, its following 'Child Killers' serving as every part as serenading as The Flaming Lips.
Yet, for a record so musically enriching, only upon closer examination, as if the song-titles didn't hint it enough, can it be discovered that the lyrical-themes of 'Hate' are that of, well, hate (sometimes these deeds not need be complex). Want some excerpts? How about the more comedic 'How can I find what's right/The truth is that our lives were shite', or straightforward morbidity of 'Climbed on her back/With an ambush attack/Down came the force/And down came the briefcase'? And this is the record's genius - its fusion of bleak, worded contrasts with opposing, uplifting instrumental arrangements; the angelic meeting the demonic, if you will.
So, yes, it's twisted, but in as gorgeous a twisted way as possible, and the gloriousness of such numbers as 'Favours', aloof 'All Rise' and 'Never Look At The Sun' will serve as mere confirmation of the band's enduring stature as the underground's most beguiling song-conjurers. Even their potential as hit-makers to crossover into the mainstream seems more likely than ever with this release... Should people be brave and wise enough as to accept and embrace them, that is.
Artists in this article: The Delgados
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