The Delgados – Universal Audio album review

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The Delgados’ 2002 Hate album was hailed as the one to grant the Glasgow four-piece mainstream acceptance and a place at the high table with Coldplay et al. One Mercury Prize nomination later (no, they didn’t win), and not much has actually changed. Hate failed to cross over; meanwhile, Snow Patrol – of all unlikely people – have snuck in through the back door. Sadly, Universal Audio is even less likely than its predecessor to break down any barriers, despite Emma Pollock’s career-best vocal performance, the brilliant experimental clatter of “Keep On Breathing” (simply begging for a Four Tet remix), and the presence of easily their most radio-friendly track to date, breezy janglepop single “Everybody Come Down”. Universal, but perhaps not universal enough.

Charlie Ivens

Originally published in The Fly magazine, September 2004 issue