Long-heralded by those in the know, (and not just for running influential record label Chemikal Underground), The Delgados' new album Universal Audio is as good as pop gets. Following the success of the band's peers Snow Patrol, it may be that this album could be the band's breakthrough, and if there is justice, this album will propel the band towards a larger audience. The divine voice of Emma Pollock- half brittle as glass, half sweet as honey- is the key factor that catches the ear, but the songs on offer are strong enough to hold attention. Opening with the excellent "I Fought The Angels", which starts off as a sparse, jerky verse building into a lushly orchestrated anthem that more than matches the commercial power of anything similarly feted right now, and the quality continues, covering much ground from the traditional Delgados sound to something slightly more windswept and eerie. As always, the use of Alun Woodward's expressive second voice is a good counterpoint, and is put to excellent use in the bouncy "Girls of Valour". Whilst not as lush as their last album Hate, the sound is still powerful enough to satisfy the fans and convert any curious parties. --Thom Allott

This has got to be one of my top ten albums (and boy, there are other very good albums in that top ten so it faces stiff competition but holds its own!). I heard 'I Fought The Angels' on the radio and thought that it sounded interesting which in turn led me to get this album. All of the songs are nigh on perfect and vary wildly from each other but somehow the album feels coherent as a whole despite this. I bought their other albums but somehow they did not seem to match the excellence of Universal Audio. It is the one I listen to the most if I want a Delgado 'Fix'. My favourite tracks are 'I Fought The Angels', 'Come Undone', 'Get Action!', 'Sink Or Swim', er, ok - perhaps it's all of them ;-)

A lot of people have been very negative about this album due to a lack of string section when previous releases have been heavily orchestrated. However, all these people have been missing the point, what make the Delgados so good is still here in full force, and that is great songwriting.
Tracks such as "Is This All That I Came For?" and "Everybody Come Down" are as melodically strong as they've ever been and "Now And Forever" contains some of the nicest vocal harmonies I have heard in a long time.
My advice to you; ignore the reviews in the music press, this is as good an album as The Delgados have ever released. Always an essential band.