Customer Reviews

Universal Audio

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I really like the Delgados, but initially, I didn't like Universal Audio. It sounded bare compared to their traditional sound, and the songs were more sugary than I expected. After repeated listening, however, the album grew on me. The melodies sound more basic but there is a great deal of subtlety in the songs. The strings are gone, but the Delgados texture their songs brilliantly even without them. I especially like what they did with the vocals.

There is great variety in this album and all of the songs are great. Although I love the moody feel of Albums like Hate and Great Eastern and the great melodies of Peloton, Universal Audio is the best collection of Delgados songs thus far.

The fact that this is a wonderful album came as no surprise, and it will come of no surprise to anyone who likes this band. Songs like "everybody come down" sound like the best music that could have been written by a joint combo of the breeders , pixies and teenage fanclub and it is immediately infectious. There are other more broody numbers such as "i fought the angels" and "the city consumes us" but all have a sweet melodious undertone that is the hallmark of the music produced by this band.

Universal Audio is their masterpiece. I've been a fan since Peleton and have all their albums, so I think I have a bit of perspective. Oddly enough, even though the sound is stripped down from Hate, there so much happening sonically in each song that I unearth new sounds every time I listen. Universal Audio is so good that I can't listen to anything else. It truly bears repeated listening. Album of the year, definitely. Do yourself a favor and get this immediately. Highlights: The City Consumes Us, Sink or Swim, Bits of Bone, Girls of Valour, Keep on Breathing, Now and Forever, Come Undone. It's all good. I get chills when I listen to it.

The Delgados are one of the best bands and every record is a treat. They have been together for ten years and are seen in the UK as a group like The Flaming Lips or REM. Also they started their own label and have championed bands like Arab Strap, Interpol, Mogwai, and Sluts of Trust. They have created a musical movement. They started out as a curiosity and then they released The Great Eastern, which was a breakout album, very much like The Soft Bulletin was for The Flaming Lips. Hate was even a better more ambitious album. Universal Audio is their firth album. It is stripped down sound. "I Fought The Angels" is their classical sound without the extras. Hate was a very depressing album. The new one is very up and uplifting. It is a great achievement. This is one of the great albums of the year.

Ever since I heard Everything Goes Around the Water on a freebie cd from Select Magazine (RIP) i've been a massive fan of this truly indie Scottish group (they run the Chemikal Underground label). Pixies-esque on their first LP, Domestiques they've embraced many musical styles over the span of their excellent five albums (this is the fifth).

The fourth, Hate, saw them immerse themselves in epic orchestrations but, while final track Now and Forever harks back to Hate, this is by and large The Delgados at their most poppy and upbeat. Fellow Scots Belle & Sebastian had a similar Eighties-esque makeover on their last album with equally impressive results. Surely fellow vanguards of the "new Scottish gentry" Franz Ferdinand sang about on their debut, it's about time this group got the acclaim and sales they deserve.

This is the kind of album the phrase "all killers no fillers" was made for, but if I had to pick an absolute favourite track it'd be Everybody Come Down. Fan. Tas. Tic.

Here's an LOL for you. I liken The Delgados in general to foreign foods. Say, for example, that you have never had sushi, and one day your friend approaches you and says, "Hey, come and eat this raw fish wrapped in rice and seaweed." Not the most appealing dish in the world. But you decide to try it anyway. You don't like it all that much, but you tell your friend it was good, just so he doesn't get his feelings hurt.

Then, a couple weeks later, you get this weird craving...for sushi. So you go try some, and WALLAH! It's delicious...how weird is that? Suddenly what was barely palatable has become a delicacy that you can't get enough of.

The Delgados are an interesting musical phenomenon for me. My initial reaction to their music was "interesting, but...I dunno". Slowly but surely, song by song, the true genius of this album and this band in general crept into my psyche. Now I can't listen to them without thinking about how freaking amazing their music is.

It's the exact opposite process of most popular music today. I hear a song on the radio and think, "Wow, what a cool song!" Then after listening to it for a week, I can't stand it anymore. It's a little disheartening to think that recycled pop music crap can be so universally lauded when there are bands like The Delgados out there trying to show us what real talent is. On the other hand, the feeling of eliteness that comes when you discover a hidden jewel like this album is fun, too.

Universal Audio just goes to prove that The Delgados are (or should I say "were") one of the most dynamic bands out there. In this album, their guitars are no longer accompanied by ecstatic strings and symphonic crash...and yet, somehow, this album is just as monumental and probably even more solid than their previous. Enough rock pop influence to get your toes immediately tapping, but erratic and "indie" enough to require some effort to appreciate.

And trust me, it is worth the effort.

This is the most accessible Delgados record. The last ones were a little atmospheric and moody. This one is a gem. Very song-oriented. It's their best album ever. If you like Franz Ferdinand and UK indie rock, this is for you. Great stuff.

Who thought The Delgados could even attempt to top their masterpiece "Hate" album? I sure didn't. Even though I had read an article where Emma and Alun had stated they were aiming for a more stripped down approach, I wasn't quite prepared. So "I Fought The Angels" didn't leave a very strong impression first time out. How could it compared to the previous album opener? However as I continued listening what I realized that what The Delgados achieved on this ablum was to refine the songwriting to an ever higher level while stripping away some orchestration and chorales. In the end, form a song-writing perspective the 11 songs on this CD are as strong as any on Great Eastern and Hate.

I Fought the Angels - just builds verse after verse in intensity, no bridge, bloody brilliant

Is this all I came for? - I love Alun's lyrics here. "Dirty hands shape the keenest minds"

Come Undone - This is essentially a refinement on Woke From Dreaming. Very nice.

Get Action! - Once again great music, great lyrics, very upbeat message. Strong chorus.

Bits of Bone - this is obviously an experimental piece, more about the sonic effect, lyrics seem to be stand-in I-am-the-walrus type nonsense.

Girls of Valour - great Beach Boy type harmonies updated for the 21st century in the tempo they take with it

Now and Forever - one of those destined to be a lighter waving type anthem. Definitely has a U2 feel in the guitars. They couldn't have possibly ended on a higher note.

Here's looking forward to Emma Pollack's new CD!