Acolyte

Delphic | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 29, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dangerbird
• ASIN: B003FPPDYK
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,418 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

In a world of indie bands dipping a cautious toe into dance music s occasionally baffling computer world, Delphic are post-dance futurist nostalgics from Manchester who have managed to take repetitive beats and crisp electronics out of the underground to emerge as one of the UK s most exciting new bands. Their debut record, Acolyte, will see its long awaited US release on June 29th, 2010 via Dangerbird Records.

Delphic is comprised of Richard Boardman, Matthew Cocksedge and James Cook who have been together for only a year. They make their music on laptops before figuring out how to play it live, throwing guitars, bass and drums over the electronics to result in their unique sound, then take to the stage and stitch their songs together into one continuous euphoric DJ set-like onslaught. Produced with the Berlin-based Techno émigré Ewan Pearson, Acolyte was recorded mostly in Pearson s Berlin studio, the city s flourishing techno scene bleeding into the crisp grooves but never to the detriment of the band s emotive songwriting. Whether on the explosively percussive Clarion Call, the lost longing of Submission, the sheer contagiousness of Halcyon or the epic scope of the title track, Delphic consistently demonstrate that their ability to write massive songs is equal to their ability to build bangin beats.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Brilliant!, July 16, 2010

By 

G. Jaimes "urbano77" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Acolyte (Audio CD)

I first heard about Delphic on the BBC's top 20 bands to look out for in 2010. I was captivated by their song Doubt which seems to have that perfect blend of electronic/industrial sound with a smooth edge that makes you feel like your being enveloped in silk. I can't say enough good things about this album other than I'm so glad they finally released this in the States!
I can't wait to see what their next album will be.
Oh, and if you have a chance to see them live, you'll be in a for a treat they put on a great show!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Emotion + technology, July 11, 2010

By 

Jason Weesner "weezie 13" (San Mateo, CA.) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Acolyte [+Digital Booklet] (MP3 Download)

Manchester's Delphic single-handedly bring the classic Factory sound to the modern day! "Acolyte" combines the emotional, electronic expanse of New Order's "Power, Corruption, and Lies" with the gentler harmonies of bands like Kings of Convenience, Royksopp, and Cut Copy. It's a combination that resonates with feeling and warmth while driving beats make it dance floor friendly. One of the best albums of the year so far and a very impressive debut! If you get a chance, catch them live! Their live performances take an already wonderful sound and pump it up with even more energy!

4.0 out of 5 stars How it Sparkles, April 11, 2011

By 

Cabir Marc Davis (Amazon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Acolyte (Audio CD)

Discovering Delphic a few months after their indie-music breakthrough amongst bloggers and music critics was probably a good thing. A lot of the time, it is far too easy to be caught up in the web of overwhelming positive reviews of the 'flavor of the quarter', so much so that your own judgement of the record is bathed in bias. That didn't happen with "Acolyte", by the UK-based trio who have created a genre in between electronica and techno music, with guitars thrown in for good effect. It doesn't hit so hard as to fall into rock music category, and they aren't going to be winning any awards for their lyrics (simplistic, naive and heartfelt at best), but this music is indeed revolutionary.

"Acolyte" takes the best elements of the beat generation from the 1980s and marries it to a more polished electronica sound from the 2000s. At times, a few extra instruments added to the mix gives a couple tracks a tinny sound that is perhaps intended but distracts from the overall experience, which explains why it didn't quite score a full five stars from me. But the promise shown on this debut is so intense that you don't really need to nitpick.

"Clarion Call", the opener, is reminiscent of a chorus of choir boys - the intonation and melody here is very organic and borders on youth church, before giving way to a full-fledged track that sets the tone for the rest of the album. This isn't an album for people with no patience. Some tracks take forever to unwind and loop, such as the title track, which takes a while before the beats kick in, but once it does you realize that its something substantially different from anything else you might have heard all year. The great thing about this album is that it has a lot of those pivotal moments that make you wonder why you haven't heard this sooner - on almost every track! The title track, while being the longest (nine minutes), isnt exactly the centerpiece of the record (it is instrumental and slightly repetitive, even for someone like me who is used to sit through excruciatingly long and overblown albums in general).

The standout tracks here are "Submission", with its minimalistic opening and Spandau Ballet overtones - indeed, the eighties serve as a blueprint for most of the songs here. This is in part a good thing, but at times you might wonder if melodies and song structures aren't being directly copied from some obscure recording from that era. But never mind, I can't complain, especially when gems such as "Counterpoint" exist. Try watching a couple of the accompanying music videos for all four lead singles - they aren't the ordinary montages, and instead have a running theme to them - quite profound and rather affecting.

Whats great about this album is that for every dizzy and fast-paced track, there are moments where things are slowed down to an almost languid, William Orbit-influenced lethargy, such as on the moody "Ephemera". When the songs are good, such as on the seven minute long "Remain" (the album closer), its a stark reminder that unknown and underrated bands sometimes do produce the best music. And while "Acolyte" has been a huge critical success, it has sadly not been a commercial success to match the glowing reviews. A pity, because this album contained some of the best music of the year. So good in fact, that I tracked down a copy of it to buy full retail (full marks also to the cover art and the unique booklet therein).

Delphic may not be an act that youre familar with, but if you like old school electronica music with a new twist, look no further. It perhaps won't break any new ground, but on tracks like "Remain", you realize that its almost like the birth of a whole new genre. Its on moments like those that you realize what a revolutionary record this actually is. And those who 'get it', will.

Four Stars.