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.
Light
The Delgados Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't wake me up without a master plan
With silence I'm becoming fragile
Don't you understand?
When things that once were beautiful
Are bland
And when I feel like I can feel once again
Soak it in awhile
If we can hold on we can fix what is wrong
Buy a little time
For this head of mine
Haven for us
In truth there is no better place to be
Than falling out of darkness still to see
Without a premonition
Could you tell me where we stand?
I'd hate to lose this light
Before we land
And when I feel like I can feel once again
Let me stay awhile
Soak it in awhile
If we can hold on we can fix what is wrong
Buy a little time
For this head of mine
Haven for us
Before we let euphoria
Convince us we are free
Remind us how we used to feel
Before when life was real
And when I feel like I can feel once again
Let me stay awhile
Soak it in awhile
If we can hold on we can fix what is wrong
Buy a little time
For this head of mine
Haven for us
The Delgados’s song “The Light Before We Land” is an introspective piece that portrays the singer as someone who is vulnerable and uncertain. In the opening verse, the singer expresses a desire for assistance during times of weakness, but only if there is a clear strategy in place. The second verse discusses the fragility of the singer's emotional state and how some experiences can lose their appeal over time. This highlights the singer's need for stability and reassurance.
The chorus suggests that the singer has been through a difficult period where they have lost touch with their emotions. There is a sense of desperation in their tone as they plead for more time to regain their sense of self. They acknowledge that there is still hope to heal and for things to be resolved, but it will take time and perseverance. The final verse is a reminder to not become too caught up in temporary joy and to remember what is truly important in life.
Overall, the song explores the theme of vulnerability and the need for stability during times of uncertainty. It also touches on the importance of taking time to reflect on one's emotions and not letting temporary pleasures cloud one's judgment.
Line by Line Meaning
In cases such as these I'd like a hand
When things get tough, I wish I had someone to help me.
Don't wake me up without a master plan
I don't like to be caught off guard. I prefer having a plan in place before taking action.
With silence I'm becoming fragile
When there's too much silence, I start to feel vulnerable and weak.
Don't you understand?
I need you to listen to me and try to understand where I'm coming from.
When things that once were beautiful are bland
Sometimes things lose their charm over time, and it's hard to recapture that feeling of joy and wonder.
If we can hold on we can fix what is wrong
If we work together and persevere, we can overcome our problems and make things right.
Buy a little time for this head of mine
I need a break to clear my head and think things through before making any decisions.
In truth there is no better place to be than falling out of darkness still to see
Even when things seem bleak, there's always hope, and sometimes it's in those moments that we see things more clearly.
Without a premonition could you tell me where we stand?
I need to know where we are in our relationship before I can move forward. I don't like surprises.
I'd hate to lose this light before we land
I don't want to lose the positivity or hope that we've found. I want to hold onto it until we reach our destination.
Before we let euphoria convince us we are free
We need to be cautious and make sure that we're not just getting caught up in the moment without really thinking about the consequences.
Remind us how we used to feel before when life was real
Help us remember what it's like to be truly present and engaged with life instead of just going through the motions.
Haven for us
Let's create a safe and peaceful environment where we can be ourselves and find comfort in each other.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: HENDERSON, POLLOCK, SAVAGE, WOODWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris McAulay
Such a profound piece of music
Patrick
This is a great song. And I catch something new every time I hear it.🙄
Renato Isaque
How can it be possible? Such a great band split off because lack of recognition..
gabriel
if we can hold on we can fix what is wrong
Fin Funnel
At 1st I thought this was a country singer artist singing this song
Paul Pledger
Touring the UK in January 2023!
Big Boss
Thanks my dude