It would be too easy to suggest that indie-dance hybrid Delphic’s debut album, ‘Acolyte’, is the record that genre-originals Klaxons should have made next. Too easy, and wildly unfair, because, while we wait and wait - ever-patiently - for the London trio’s sophomore release, this Ewan Pearson-produced gang from Manchester have snuck in the back door and delivered.
The seemingly trendy move for countless guitar bands to shoe-horn in synthesisers and computer-generated, er, noises, is now common practice. While some avoid the car crash that often results in such a move by really making it work (think Editors), some sell out so painfully that it almost brings a tear to the eye (think The Killers). How refreshing, then, for a band to launch themselves as themselves from the get-go.
And it’s a sublime sound: ‘Clarion Call’ is an uplifting opener, leaving the listener foaming at the mouth with anticipation as to what could be next. Single ‘Doubt’, a catchy, radio-ready masterpiece, doesn’t disappoint, and features a more traditional indie-esque ending that positively blossoms in amongst the processed drums and voice effects.
‘This Momentary’, first released back in August, kicks into a beat that wouldn’t sound out of place on an early Underworld recording, and it is soon clear that the northern-England club scene is clearly as big an influence on these rookies as the dreamy, flowing vocals of a certain group of Mercury Prize winners.
The album as a whole is splashed with nostalgia; ‘Submission’ takes a leaf out of La Roux’s impeccable 80s-imitation guide-book and, with some gorgeous vocal work from James Cook, has the listener imagining short shorts and bad haircuts at Club Tropicana.
While not everything here is spectacular, even the low-points are far from damaging. ‘Counterpoint’ is somewhat over-the-top, driven by what sounds like bad mid-nineties trance, but, with six months or so to breathe, will rest assured spark some festival sing-a-longs. And though ‘Halycon’ sounds like a lazy offering at first, it is saved by a buzzing mid-song solo that ends up being one of the album’s highlights.
There are some fine lines: the title track is the most gorgeous of almost-instrumental interludes, featuring ghostly Chicane-like voices and drifting electronica, whereas ‘Ephemera’ is two minutes of eerie and rather pointless nothingness. But, all-in-all, this is a superbly solid first-time effort.
Delphic will provide fans of Friendly Fires et al with a new favourite band, of that there is little doubt. Whether they can penetrate the big-time world of sales, awards and front covers, leaving the hype behind, remains to be seen.
Time will tell as to whether ‘Acolyte’ proves itself to be a record of real importance for the next decade, but, at the very least, its creators have managed to conjure up an early, early (so early you’re still full-up from Christmas dinner) contender for debut album of the year. The standard has been set.
Tracklist:
Delphic - Clarion Call
Delphic - Doubt
Delphic - This Momentary
Delphic - Red Lights
Delphic - Acolyte
Delphic - Halcyon
Delphic - Submission
Delphic - Counterpoint
Delphic - Ephemera
Delphic - Remain
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