the delgados
Hate (Mantra) Rating: NNNN Rating: NNNN
It’s tempting to praise Hate as another Dave Fridmann-mixed pop-psych masterpiece in the vein of Mercury Rev and the Flaming Lips, but all the attention here should go to the Delgados. Picking up where their epic The Great Eastern disc left off, Hate is a showcase for the Glasgow quartet’s finely honed songwriting skills. While in the past it might have been sufficient to write the sketch of a song and then overload it with Fridmann’s swooping strings, cooing choirs and distorted drums, the 10 tracks here — particularly those sung by vocalist Emma Pollock — are massive pop songs that can stand up fine on their own. This is a group that gets more confident and adventurous with each release. As good as Hate is, you can’t wait to hear what the Delgados will do next.