Complete BBC Peel Sessions, The - Delgados (The)

...ELO's “Mr Blue Sky” complete with string section is a joy to listen to, as it really suits the Delgados style and Emma's voice. A full throttle version of the Dead Kennedy's “California Uber Alles” follow as the Delgados rock out. The pace totally changes again for a sprightly version of Cat Steven's “Matthew and Son”. “Last Rose of Summer” picked out by Peel hinself is song I'm unfamiliar with but the Delgados version with Emma's voice lilting and ...
...sublime. Broadcast for a Bruns' Night Special, “Parcel of Rogues” is perhaps Bun's most nationalistic dissolution of the Scottish Parliament and the 1707 Act ot of Union with England. Its a special song for me as it reminds me of working in Burns' House Museum as a student. The Delgado version is played very straight and really does he song with its cutting lyrics “bought and sold for English Gold” justice. The album is rounded off with a delightful ... more

The late great John Peel (RIP) certainly had a really good taste in music. As well as nominating Teenage Kicks by the Undertones as his favourtie song ever (it's high up in my top ten) he championed one of my favorurite bands the Delgados (also RIP since they split up in 2005). During a ten year period they recorded no less than seven sessions comprising of twenty nine tracks in total for John Peel's late night show on Radio 1. These sessions have been compiled into a comprehensive double CD. I doubt the Delgados will ever have a best of (and certainly not a greatest hits as this criminally underacted, wonderful band never dented the top 40. Thus in an absence of a best of this is the nearest thing to a comprehensive retrospective of their career.

For those that don't know the Delgados were a Scottish quartet who were instrumental in setting up the influential indoe record label Chemikal Underground . consisting of Emma Pollock and Alun Woodwoard on lead vocals and guitar, Stewart Henderson on bass and Paul Savage on drums. The band released five albums “Domestique”, “Peletron”, “Great Eastern”, “Hate” and “Universal Audio”.

Like most bands (apart from Status Quo) the Delgados changed and evolved their sound from their frantic low fit early sessions to the lush orchestration of the “Great Eastern “and Hate ending with the well crafted pop songs of their final album “Universal Audio.” However throughout their career they have produced interesting songs that have different layers, textures and experimentation with tempo and vocals.

The first CD consists of the first four sessions. On first listening I found it a difficult CD to listen to than the second one,as the earlier songs are a bit grungy and low fi but has a lot of youthful exuberance. Lyrically they not be the best “Under Canvas Under Wraps” makes me ponder what a worry stone is along with mentions of magic keyrings in I've Only Just Started To Breath” whilst the choruses of “4th channel” comprises of Woodward chanting the word television in quite a Scottish brogue. Similarly “Teen Elf's chorus consists of Spanish names being chanted randomly. But don't let this put you off. The aforementioned four songs are joyous pieces of pop. I love “ “I've Only Just Started To Breath” for its sheer quirkiness. It starts off quite mellow and melodic with hushed vocals but then transforms into a wonderful piece of frantic, bubblegum pop reminiscent of Bis (remember them) at times with both vocalist's sounding like they have swallowed a dose of helium. “Under Canvas Under Wraps” both in this version and the version on their debut album Domestique goes at 100 miles per hour with its driving drums and guitar, frenzied violin and very fuzzy vocals whilst “Teen Elf is playful and raucous. Opening track “Lazawalker2 shows off h band's talent for loud- quiet vocals and stop-start rhythms”.

Half way through the first CD there is a change in the songs, as we see a definite progression of the band's sound as string instruments and a flute are introduced. Its a step closer to the Delgados I fell in love with on the “Great Eastern”. ”Everything Goes around the Water” is a very pretty gentle song which has Alun on lead vocal and a light percussion beat with Emma harmonsing later on in the track whilst the violins and flute complement the prettiness of the track. It differs from the album track a little bit as there is no flute introduction just guitar and bass. “Pull The Wires From the Wall” is the stand out track on the first CD The simplicity of the cello backing Emma's clear haunting vocals is eerily beautiful. The pace and moods changes with “Mauron Chanson” with its upbeat chorus.

You would be mistaken for thinking “Repeat Failure” was an instrumental due to the extended introduction (a whole minute longer than the album version). The vocals do not kick in until well after the first minute of the track. The guitars, bassline and clashing cymbals gives the song a menacing feel whilst Pollock's delivery is harsher than usual until the rhythm subsides leaving a more vulnerable, sweeter vocal. “Don't Stop” is a welcome breather as its a really pretty lullaby of a song with hushed crooned vocals which bursts into a wonderful flowing cello solo. “Blackpool” is an experimental 5 minute epic. The stark drum beat, eery guitar layered over Emma's mellifluous vocals gives the verse to “Blackpool” a really atmospheric feel to it especially when the cello kicks in What is puzzling are the DJ like scratching, wild organ riffs and bass which sound totally out of place and a bit of a mess. its a bit of a challenging piece of music to listen to and that's what I llove about the Delgados.

I tend to enjoy CD2 more as its got a nice balance of familiar songs from “ the “Great Eastern” and “Universal Audio” and some interesting cover versions. “Make Your Move” has always been a favourrite of mine. Its very simple and just so tragically beautiful with lyrics such as ”Second hand was never planned, The birth was over, the baby banned, She fled the place at such a pace
She never even saw your face”. Its such a simple song it works very well as a session track whilst others such as “No Danger” feels slightly flat and understated compared to the version on the “Great Eastern” with its lush production. “Accused of Stealing” a wonderfully complex song about unrequited, almost stalkerish love uses an aucostic guitar rather than an electric one to give it a more laid back to feel but is just as good as the album version. “Aye Today” has always been the weak point of the “Great Easter” and the session does nothing to improve it. Its always one of those songs that floats by very pleasantly without you particularly noticing it .

The “Universal Audio” era Delgados are perhaps the most accessible for those new to the band, as the songs are less complex and more conventional but nonetheless still magnificent. I've always loved the concept of “ I fought the Angels” rather than demons or devils, as angels are supposed to be nice helpful celestial beings. With its bold start stop guitar riff and Emma's measured almost clipped vocals its just brilliant. “Is This All That I Came For” lacks the bounciness of the
album version but the pared down session version with acoustic guitar ands and piano really showcases Woodward's vocals beautifully. “Everybody Comes Down” a glorious piece of sunny pop music continues in a similar vein to the previous song but this time its Emma's turn to shine.

The six cover versions included on this CD are well selected to show of the versatility of the Delgados. ELO's “Mr Blue Sky” complete with string section is a joy to listen to, as it really suits the Delgados style and Emma's voice. A full throttle version of the Dead Kennedy's “California Uber Alles” follow as the Delgados rock out. The pace totally changes again for a sprightly version of Cat Steven's “Matthew and Son”. “Last Rose of Summer” picked out by Peel hinself is song I'm unfamiliar with but the Delgados version with Emma's voice lilting and a stark background of strings and flute it sounds sublime. Broadcast for a Bruns' Night Special, “Parcel of Rogues” is perhaps Bun's most nationalistic dissolution of the Scottish Parliament and the 1707 Act ot of Union with England. Its a special song for me as it reminds me of working in Burns' House Museum as a student. The Delgado version is played very straight and really does he song with its cutting lyrics “bought and sold for English Gold” justice. The album is rounded off with a delightful version of Ewan McColl's “Ballad of Accounting”. I love this version a, as the band sounds so Scottish and folky but never twee .The final verse which is sung accapella with just hand claps in the background is especially effective. It's got a great pace to it that makes me want to leap about and do jigs and skip changes to it.

The “Complete Peel Sessions” is not meant to be a best of. There's nothing from “Hate” including the wonderfully titled “All You Need is Hate” and other key songs such as the epic “American Trilogty” is missing. However I would recommend it as a good overview of the Delgados perhaps for those that have come to them via Emma Pollock's solo career. It's a tribute to perhaps my favoruite band ever and also the much missed and loved John Peel.

I bought my copy for £10 in Fopp.

 

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