(Modular/Universal)

Young indie band actually get the head-rushing joy of dance music right

Manchester’s Delphic sought out a number of high profile producers for their debut album, not least of all The Chemical Brothers, before deciding on Ewan Pearson. They felt that Pearson best understood their vision – he sat behind the boards for several tracks on M83’s sublime Saturdays = Youth, after all – and from the sound of this debut, the collaboration paid off. Unlike a lot of indie bands who incorporate electronic elements into their sound, Delphic are genuinely understand the dynamics of the dance floor. The bleeps and fluttering beats on tracks like Doubt and the outstanding instrumental centrepiece Acolyte don’t feel like afterthoughts – they are part of the very DNA of the songs. Take This Momentary as typical – opening with a gentle synth hum and some low-slung bass, it builds slowly, adding James Cook’s wounded, Kele Okereke-like vocals, then pitter-pattering snare drums, then an arpeggiated synth pattern, then suddenly, the endorphins are racing and the strobes are flashing and everyone’s hands are in the air. There is nothing particularly show off-y about Acolyte, either – it has great tunes and catchy melodies to spare, but it doesn’t push them all in your face, instead letting you discover them for yourself over repeated listens. I have no doubt that early ‘90s rave music – and all the New Order and Haçienda associations that go along with it – will become go-to reference points for young bands over the next year or so, but I’m thinking few will do it better or more convincingly than Delphic.

****½

ALASDAIR DUNCAN

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