The Delgados
The Delgados are a Scottish indie rock band who formed in Hamilton, South L… Read Full Bio ↴The Delgados are a Scottish indie rock band who formed in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire in 1994 after friends Alun Woodward (vocals/guitar), Stewart Henderson (bass) and Paul Savage (drums) were forcibly ejected from the band Bubblegum. Joined by Paul's then-girlfriend Emma Pollock (vocals/guitar), the band chose to name themselves after Tour de France winning cyclist Pedro Delgado. They split in April 2005, with Emma signing a solo deal with 4AD shortly afterwards. June 2006 saw the release of a mammoth 29 track album of all the band's Peel sessions.
The band continue to turn out promising independent artists under their cult record label Chemikal Underground.
Their first commercial release came with the inclusion of their track "Liquidation Girl" on the compilation album Skookum Chief Powered Teenage Zit Rock Angst from Nardwuar the Human Serviette. Neglecting to go the traditional route of signing to a record label, the band instead started their own, Chemikal Underground, with which to release not only their records but also those of other local bands. Chemikal Underground's first release was naturally The Delgados first single Monica Webster / Brand New Car. Despite being greatly overshadowed by the Blur/Oasis race, the single caught the attention of veteran BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel and the band quickly became one of his favourites, going on to play more than ten sessions for his show.
The cost of Chemikal Underground's second release, the single Disco Nation 45 by Bis, left the cash-strapped label unable to afford another release by The Delgados, so their next release Lazarwalker came from the London based Radar Records. Tempted by Radar to a five album deal, the band declined, instead poaching their A&R contact, Graeme Beattie, for work at Chemikal Underground.
Another single, Cinecentre followed in early 1996 as the band juggled work at the label (made all the more hectic with Bis' appearance on Top of the Pops) with several tours, and recording their debut album. The band released two more singles, this time taken from their album Domestiques released on October 28, 1996. Both singles and the album were critically lauded, with the song "Under Canvas, Under Wraps" being voted number three in John Peel's Festive Fifty.
The band released their second album in 1998. Peloton - also a cycling reference - which saw the band begin to broaden their musical palette. Including a wider range of styles and more complex arrangements the record proved a critical success. It did not sell in huge numbers, however, though the single Pull the Wires From the Wall gave the Delgados their first UK chart hit, reaching number 69. The band's close relationship with John Peel continued, with Pull the Wires From the Wall voted to number one in the Festive Fifty (it would also make the all time chart made in 2000) and other entries at 9 and 38.
The Delgados' evolution continued with The Great Eastern in 2000. The record, produced by Dave Fridmann, was heavily orchestrated and contained shifting time signatures. Again, the record was lauded by the critics but failed to significantly expand the band's following. The first single, American Trilogy, reached number 61 in the UK charts. The record was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and four of its songs reached the Festive Fifty, two in the top ten.
This pattern was extended for their fourth album, Hate, which was released on Mantra rather than the band's own Chemikal Underground label. The album's epic songs were popular among critics and festive fifty voters but a wider public still proved elusive. The song The Light Before We Land was used as the opening music for the anime Gunslinger Girl, bringing the band to a new audience.
The band returned to their own label for 2004's 'Universal Audio' - which marked something of a move away from the orchestrated sounds of its two predecessors, towards a simpler, poppier approach.
The band announced they were disbanding in April 2005 due to the departure of bass player Stewart Henderson who found it difficult "to pour so much of my energy and time into something that never quite seemed to get the attention or respect I felt it deserved". The four friends will continue to run Chemikal Underground together. Songwriters Emma Pollock and Alun Woodward are pursuing individual projects, while drummer Paul Savage will continue production duties at the band's Chem19 Studios in Hamilton and in a new studio.
The members recently announced that they've secured the rights for their BBC session performances. A double-disc containing 29 tracks was released on June 12th 2006 in Europe. A release in the USA is expected before the end of 2006.
In June 2022, the band announced that they were reforming.
The band continue to turn out promising independent artists under their cult record label Chemikal Underground.
Their first commercial release came with the inclusion of their track "Liquidation Girl" on the compilation album Skookum Chief Powered Teenage Zit Rock Angst from Nardwuar the Human Serviette. Neglecting to go the traditional route of signing to a record label, the band instead started their own, Chemikal Underground, with which to release not only their records but also those of other local bands. Chemikal Underground's first release was naturally The Delgados first single Monica Webster / Brand New Car. Despite being greatly overshadowed by the Blur/Oasis race, the single caught the attention of veteran BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel and the band quickly became one of his favourites, going on to play more than ten sessions for his show.
The cost of Chemikal Underground's second release, the single Disco Nation 45 by Bis, left the cash-strapped label unable to afford another release by The Delgados, so their next release Lazarwalker came from the London based Radar Records. Tempted by Radar to a five album deal, the band declined, instead poaching their A&R contact, Graeme Beattie, for work at Chemikal Underground.
Another single, Cinecentre followed in early 1996 as the band juggled work at the label (made all the more hectic with Bis' appearance on Top of the Pops) with several tours, and recording their debut album. The band released two more singles, this time taken from their album Domestiques released on October 28, 1996. Both singles and the album were critically lauded, with the song "Under Canvas, Under Wraps" being voted number three in John Peel's Festive Fifty.
The band released their second album in 1998. Peloton - also a cycling reference - which saw the band begin to broaden their musical palette. Including a wider range of styles and more complex arrangements the record proved a critical success. It did not sell in huge numbers, however, though the single Pull the Wires From the Wall gave the Delgados their first UK chart hit, reaching number 69. The band's close relationship with John Peel continued, with Pull the Wires From the Wall voted to number one in the Festive Fifty (it would also make the all time chart made in 2000) and other entries at 9 and 38.
The Delgados' evolution continued with The Great Eastern in 2000. The record, produced by Dave Fridmann, was heavily orchestrated and contained shifting time signatures. Again, the record was lauded by the critics but failed to significantly expand the band's following. The first single, American Trilogy, reached number 61 in the UK charts. The record was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and four of its songs reached the Festive Fifty, two in the top ten.
This pattern was extended for their fourth album, Hate, which was released on Mantra rather than the band's own Chemikal Underground label. The album's epic songs were popular among critics and festive fifty voters but a wider public still proved elusive. The song The Light Before We Land was used as the opening music for the anime Gunslinger Girl, bringing the band to a new audience.
The band returned to their own label for 2004's 'Universal Audio' - which marked something of a move away from the orchestrated sounds of its two predecessors, towards a simpler, poppier approach.
The band announced they were disbanding in April 2005 due to the departure of bass player Stewart Henderson who found it difficult "to pour so much of my energy and time into something that never quite seemed to get the attention or respect I felt it deserved". The four friends will continue to run Chemikal Underground together. Songwriters Emma Pollock and Alun Woodward are pursuing individual projects, while drummer Paul Savage will continue production duties at the band's Chem19 Studios in Hamilton and in a new studio.
The members recently announced that they've secured the rights for their BBC session performances. A double-disc containing 29 tracks was released on June 12th 2006 in Europe. A release in the USA is expected before the end of 2006.
In June 2022, the band announced that they were reforming.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
The Delgados Lyrics
02. All You Need Is Hate This was how I broke the best Indifference, overblown with …
03 WOKE FROM DREAMING Woke from dreaming but it took convincing I was shaking scre…
05-Thirteen Gliding Principles (If you care) Do you run (not to stare) For your fun…
07-Aye Today Songs sung out of key reminds me that I'm free The feeling…
08.- The Light Before we Land In cases such as these I'd like a hand Don't wake…
09.Everything Goes Around the Water Give me your lies Just leave out the reason I'm only twenty-…
11 i fought the angels I Fought the angels here today Hope My defeat will end this …
13 Gliding Principles (If you care) Do you run (not to stare) For your fun…
4th Channel Is it old? Is it bold? Is it necessarily gold? Shelling o…
Accused Of Stealing Tell me your confessions. Let me be the ears for all…
All Rise Born of no nation, no occupation Straight was my gate if…
All You Need Is Hate This was how I broke the best Indifference, overblown with c…
American Trilogy I became accustomed to a kind of social servitude and no…
And So the Talking Stopped When the lines leave nothing but my own space Will you…
Arcane Model It's with the time today You change your colours fast And we…
Aye Today Songs sung out of key reminds me that I'm free The feeling's…
Big Business in Europe Situation's been declined What is yours is yours is mine K…
Bits of Bone Bits of bone and lucky stones Fly the flags cause flags…
Blackpool Turn attention those we mention Seasonal attraction beckons …
Chalk It's half past nine, I have some wine It's raining and…
Child Killers Lately days all seem the same since I lost my…
Clarinet Take the easy way out and I'll meet you at…
Coalman If we try too hard forgive us If we try too…
Come Undone So she said Far enough Far enough is here Homeward bound …
Coming in From the Cold Step inside A better dream job you could never find A set…
D'estus Morte Dusting portraits where they hang Tables laid out, flowers i…
Don Don't stop I mean it don't stop No one's beside you 'cause…
Don't Stop Don't stop I mean it don't stop No one's beside you 'cause…
Even Look At The Sun V1 If you dare Look up and see what's there Level your eyes…
Everybody Come Down See a place, see a sore See a reason to…
Everything Goes Around The Water Give me your lies Just leave out the reason I'm only twenty-…
Falling and Landing Where you fall is where you land A picture of our…
Favours V1 Started to fight But I took off in fright Could not be…
Get Action No one ever said to me that I should write…
Girls Of Valour Daybreak comes late, batters down your soul These days you …
Hate This was how I broke the best Indifference, overblown with c…
Home From Dreaming Woke from dreaming but it took convincing I was shaking scre…
I Fought Angel I Fought the angels here today Hope My defeat will end this …
I See Secrets I need another story Something to get off my chest My life…
If This Is A Plan Make it better Anyway way just to make it feel better By…
Intro I feel good in the summer time I feel sad when…
Keep On Breathing I wonder if he knows The pleasure that he shows I can't…
Knowing When to Run A boy that's so scared lying under the stairs begs for…
Last Rose Of Summer You may see the last rose of summer You may see…
Light In cases such as these I'd like a hand Don't wake…
Mad Drums Stand beside the photograph Then stand beside the door I'd…
Make Your Move Finish what you've started here You make your move just onc…
Mister Blue Sky Sun is shinin' in the sky There ain't a cloud in…
Never Look At The Sun V1 If you dare Look up and see what's there Level your eyes…
No Danger I've been hanging round for days still confused about the wa…
Now and Forever This is your life, there are no second chances Grab all…
One More Question Are you smiling in the morning? Are you smiling in the…
Pull The Wires From T Creeping 'round my house at dawn, I'll keep my curtains clos…
reasons Give me an age where I don't know a thing Where…
Repeat Failure Hide you from my eyes Too many people that I probably…
Russian Orthodox Please believe If I can't win then I'll leave And chaste I…
Sink Or Swim You're a single survivor Found an ocean between you and thos…
Smaller Mammals Sit around and watch it fall around See my hands as…
Strathcona Slung tay calm for the camera, Designed for seconds(?) point of v…
Sucrose Take a short, take a short change Taking time, time to…
Tempered; Not Tamed Have you seen yourself? Take a limit and push it for…
The Actress This is not my house But I know you both so…
The Arcane Model It's with the time today You change your colours fast And we…
The City Consumes Us Streets like the rest of them But I can't forget Faces fam…
The Drowning Years This is the life of a woman with demons The first…
The Light Before We Land In cases such as these I'd like a hand Don't wake…
The Past Suits You Best Salt in my eyes, stinging my brain It's been forty odd…
The Weaker Argument Defeats I think you know I'd like to go 'Cause all the ladies…
The Weaker Argument Defeats .. I think you know I'd like to go 'Cause all the ladies…
The Weaker Arguments Defeat .. I think you know I'd like to go 'Cause all the ladies…
Thirteen Gliding Principles (If you care) Do you run (not to stare) For your fun…
trilogy I became accustomed to a kind of social servitude and no…
Under Canvas Under Wraps And I don't know what I'm sticking around for. Take a…
Witness Will you join me? I want to live these years again There…
Woke For Dreaming Woke from dreaming but it took convincing I was shaking scre…