Delgados - Hate

by Anthony Strutt

published: 15 / 11 / 2002

Label: Mantra
Format: CD

intro

Dark, doom laden fourth album from the Delgados, which, despite Emma Pollock's always impressive vocals, will be of appeal to hardcore fans only

'Hate' is the Delgados fourth album and their first on Mantra Records. It is a very dark record in its subject matter, and I don't really think, as a result, that the Delgados will attract many new fans with this. It is lush in its sound, with chorus and strings and brass. Emma Pollock's lovely voice is featured throughout, but the brass is too bass-orientated for me. At times it sounds to my ears a bit too clumsy and over the top to go with the tunes. Alun Woodward's vocals are also fine. I have always liked Delgados albums, but this is not an uplifting album. Although I am a fan of doom laden music and can listen to the Cure and Mark Eitzel for breakfast, I found it all a bit too much hard work. It's one for hard core fans only really. 'Coming in from the Cold' is a classic though.

Track Listing:-

1 The Light Before We Land
2 All You Need Is Hate
3 Woke From Dreaming
4 The Drowning Year
5 Coming In From The Cold
6 Child Killers
7 Favours
8 All Rise
9 Never Look At The Sun
10 If This Is A Plan

interviews

Interview (2002)

The Delgados fourth album 'Hate' is the band's most critically acclaimed album to date yet. Anthony Strutt talks to frontwoman Emma Pollock about is recording, and the band's decision to switch to Mantra from their own Chemikal Underground label

live reviews

London Shepherd's Bush Empire, 31/1/2003

The Delgados' recent tour found them with nine musicians on stage. Olga Sladeckova at a show at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire, however, concludes that less is often better than more

London ICA, 12/11/2002