Track Listing
1. Clarion Call
2. Doubt
3. This Momentary
4. Red Lights
5. Acolyte
6. Halcyon
7. Submission
8. Counterpoint
9. Ephemera
10. Remain
Review
Let's all admit it: there's good electronic and there's bad electronic. But there is no doubting that Delphic has allied itself with the good electronic with Acolyte. From song to song, the beat has your attention, and the smooth vocals draw you even closer. Whether you're looking for an alternative to something as in-your-face as Cobra Starship, or Broken Social Scene's move toward synthesizers in Forgiveness Rock Record got under your skin, Delphic should be on your list of bands to watch.
The thing I value most about owning full albums is the ability to listen to a song "in context." Sometimes, a song's place in the album gives it more or less meaning, or even alters its tone altogether. For this reason, transitions between songs and the way in which songs are arranged on an album can have a major impact on how the full album is perceived. The order of Acolyte's tracks is something aspiring artists or managers need to pay close attention to. The tracks' transitions are nothing short of professional. Even in a first listen, the next track's tone can be inferred from the ending of the track before it (apart from the first song, of course). This aids a listener in finishing an album, instead of giving up and getting bored halfway through. After all, we live in an age of "aural ADHD," so keeping a potential buyer listening can be the difference between gaining a fan and fending off a pirate.
In electronic music, originality among an album's tracks is imperative. If everything sounds the same, what incentive does the listener have to buy the album if they can scrobble a track off iTunes and hit the repeat button? Delphic does a good job of keeping my attention with their use of various instruments and arpeggiators, as well as with the sparse use of electric guitar. The lyrics and vocals never seem forced on the music, giving each track a distinct individual character.
If you're a fan of electronic music or powerpop, you're almost certain to love Delphic's Acolyte. And, if you haven't dipped your toe into those genres, Acolyte might be a good starting point. Its heavy pop themes make it accessible to most listeners.
Lobspork Rating: 4.3 / 5
Pitchfork Rating: 5.0 / 10
