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 City Consumes Us
The Delgados Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I can't forget
Faces familiar and full of regret
I hated this place
And all who came from it
Far from the scenery
Far from the road
Lifted my load
We boarded the train
To come back again
I was convinced in my mind
I was not of this kind
Faced with finality
I choose calamity
See us
Watch how this city consumes us
Watch how this city destroys us
Prices I'm happy to pay
Walking on pathways
I walked with my friends
Hearing that some of them
Have met bitter ends
How can you conceive
Your friends will be grieving for you?
Running from memories
I'll only deny
Doesn't make remedies
They still survive
I hated this place
And I have come from it
I was convinced in my mind
I was not of this kind
Faced with reality
I choose frivolity
See us
Watch how this city consumes us
Watch how this city destroys us
Cost I am happy to pay
See it coming near
See you walking close to me
Fear inside my head
Fear is never far from me
Walk you in my side
Walk you in the day we met
We will disappear
We will reappear
We can disappear
We can reappear
See us
Watch how this city consumes us
Watch how this city destroys us
Prices I'm happy to pay
"The City Consumes Us" by The Delgados is a song that reflects on the relationship between individuals and the cities they live in. The lyrics describe the feelings of the singer towards their hometown, a place they had once hated because of the people living there, but that they now feel attached to because of the memories they created. The song explores how cities can shape our identities and affect us in different ways.
The first stanza of the song sets the tone for the rest of the track. The singer talks about how the streets of their city are like any other but they can't forget the familiar faces full of regret. They hated this place, and everyone who came from it. However, in the second half of the song, the singer reveals that they have come back to the city, despite swearing they'd never return. They boarded the train and came back to the place they had left behind. The singer is not sure why they're back, but they are aware that they are different from the people surrounding them.
The chorus is the most prominent part of the song. The repeated phrase "see us, watch how this city consumes us, watch how this city destroys us, prices I'm happy to pay" is a commentary on the relationship between the city and the individual. It captures the feeling of being swept up by the city, becoming consumed by its energy, and simultaneously recognizing the destructive power of the city. Despite this, the singer acknowledges that they are willing to pay the price for being a part of the city and letting it shape who they are.
Overall, "The City Consumes Us" addresses themes of identity, memory, and the power of the urban environment. The Delgados explore the dynamic relationship between individuals and cities, showing how these spaces can both lift and weigh us down.
Line by Line Meaning
Streets like the rest of them
The streets are not unique, they are like any other city
But I can't forget
Even though the streets are not unique, there is something about them that sticks with the singer
Faces familiar and full of regret
The people the singer sees have a sense of familiarity and regret
I hated this place
The singer dislikes the city
And all who came from it
The singer dislikes the people from the city as well
Far from the scenery
The singer is far away from the natural beauty of the countryside
Far from the road
The singer is not on the main road
Far from the greenery
The singer is also far away from the natural greenery of the countryside
Lifted my load
Being away from the city has relieved the singer's burden
We boarded the train
The singer and friends boarded a train
To come back again
They will come back to the city again
I was convinced in my mind
The singer had a strong belief in their mind
I was not of this kind
The singer did not feel like they belonged in the city
Faced with finality
The singer was confronted with the finality of the situation
I choose calamity
The singer made a bad decision
See us
The singer is asking the listener to observe them
Watch how this city consumes us
The singer is warning the listener to see how the city destroys them
Watch how this city destroys us
The city is causing harm to the musicians and their friends
Prices I'm happy to pay
The cost of living in the city is worth it to the singer
Walking on pathways
The singer is taking a walk with friends
I walked with my friends
The singer is walking with friends
Hearing that some of them
The singer heard that some of their friends
Have met bitter ends
Their friends have had tragic experiences
How can you conceive
The singer wonders how one can imagine
Your friends will be grieving for you?
The singer is reflecting on the tragedy that has befallen their friends
Running from memories
The singer is trying to forget things from the past
I'll only deny
The singer is in denial about certain memories
Doesn't make remedies
Pretending the memories do not exist will not help solve the problem
They still survive
The memories still exist
And I have come from it
The singer comes from the city they dislike
Faced with reality
The singer is confronting the reality of the situation
I choose frivolity
The singer chose to act in a foolish manner
See it coming near
Something is approaching
See you walking close to me
The singer sees someone walking towards them
Fear inside my head
The singer is frightened
Fear is never far from me
The singer is often afraid
Walk you in my side
The singer is walking next to someone
Walk you in the day we met
The singer is recalling the day they met the person next to them
We will disappear
The singer and the person next to them will vanish
We will reappear
The singer and the person next to them will return
We can disappear
The singer and the person next to them have the power to vanish
We can reappear
The singer and the person next to them have the power to reappear
Cost I am happy to pay
The singer is willing to pay the cost of living in the city
Contributed by Penelope H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bernardothecat
Thank you for the videos! I'm from Brazil and I'd love to watch they playing live 🖤
@Kkidzz
This is the nail in my coffin…….just incredible.