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10.0
7981
10.0 |
The Times
...youthful hunger underwritten by an assurance and craft almost unheard of in debut albums
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9.0
8064
9.0 |
Rave Magazine
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
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8.5
7761
8.5 |
The Quietus
The thrill of hearing a record so irresistibly fresh and invigorating for the most part masks its weaknesses. Those for whom Delphic's reference points are either sacred cows or bête noires may take issue with their magpie approach, but this is an album that looks forward relentlessly
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8.5
7572
8.5 |
Independent on Sunday
Acolyte as a whole recalls New Order in their shimmering prime...on kissing terms with magnificence
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8.5
7574
8.5 |
The Line Of Best Fit
Acolyte might well be an early contender for album of the year, especially amongst those who dig their atmospheric post-dance; they’ll soon be dedicated acolytes
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8.0
7609
8.0 |
Q
Print edition only
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8.0
7655
8.0 |
Drowned In Sound
Almost certain to be one of the year’s most immediate and assured records, particularly for a debut, boasting any number of potential hit singles
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8.0
7685
8.0 |
NME
... have avoided all the hallmarks of a cheesy crossover album and produced a cohesive and impressive debut
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8.0
7697
8.0 |
The Guardian
The bleeps and beats never feel bolted-on, but integral: someone involved in Acolyte's production ... has a perfect understanding of the build-and-release dynamics of the dancefloor
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8.0
7777
8.0 |
The Fly
It’s the best Manchester debut since ‘Lost Souls’, and the best start possible to the new decade
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8.0
7865
8.0 |
Scotland on Sunday
Delphic not only talk the talk but have the walk to go with it, boasting big melodies to out-muscle beats of any shape or size
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8.0
7869
8.0 |
musicOMH
...while it may be too early in the year to be talking in superlatives, Delphic have started 2010 as we all hope it will go on - with superb music
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8.0
7984
8.0 |
State
You might say that Acolyte is the album that we’d secretly hoped Bad Lieutenant had released last year: beautiful, slow-to-burn builds, galloping keyboards, anxious vocals and woozy, Ibiza-at-dawn embraces
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8.0
9570
8.0 |
FasterLouder
Acolyte is a superb effort, especially for a debut. As long as Delphic continue to be this creative, there’s no reason why they won’t continue this momentum
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7.0
14562
7.0 |
Blurt
Delphic has mastered the tricky merging of emotion with pop writing, rock propulsion, and basic time signatures
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7.0
7652
7.0 |
Clash
‘Acolyte’ may infuriate dance purists with its naive inflections but for more pop orientated people it’s a fun, if somewhat formulaic start to the decade
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7.0
8163
7.0 |
The Digital Fix
There ain't nothing here that hasn't been done before, but when was the last time it was done so well?
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7.0
7918
7.0 |
God Is In The TV
Acolyte is pristine in both its pacing and its production. For the dance-guitar crossover that the group are angling for, its structured perfectly
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7.0
7782
7.0 |
The Observer
Acolyte demonstrates that Delphic have the raw materials – grey matter, pop nous – to do more than merely genuflect with skill at the feet of past masters
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6.0
7795
6.0 |
The Sunday Times
...a debut album that is, if not a triumph, then certainly a telling first stab
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6.0
7802
6.0 |
The Scotsman
Is the world ready for yet another pale imitation of New Order?
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6.0
7935
6.0 |
Daily Telegraph
While they lack the shimmering menace of their heroes, Delphic’s melancholy dancefloor melodies do exert a certain charm
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6.0
7959
6.0 |
The Irish Times
Blending glacial guitar lines, dramatic synths, lush big-room atmospherics and oodles of pretty harmonies, Delphic create oceans of sound that rave as well as rock
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6.0
7699
6.0 |
The Independent
They've spoken of being keenly aware of their Mancunian musical heritage, but they're in danger of being weighed down by it, their brand of indie-aware stadium-techno bearing too close a resemblance to New Order, in particular
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6.0
7738
6.0 |
The List
The key references here are – Friendly Fires, Cut Copy, Air, Mylo – which isn’t bad company to keep
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6.0
7620
6.0 |
Uncut
Print edition only
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6.0
8296
6.0 |
Observer Music Monthly
Print edition only
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6.0
7763
6.0 |
Evening Standard
Their northern heritage and electronic indie sound has earned New Order comparisons, yet they're more easily mistaken for dancefloor-friendly contemporaries such as Klaxons, Bloc Party and especially Friendly Fires
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6.0
19610
6.0 |
PopMatters
With “Halcyon” and “Doubt”, Delphic have two of the greatest singles of the past 12 months. But does getting the chemistry perfect just twice in 10 attempts mean they deserve your attention?
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5.0
8338
5.0 |
Pitchfork
...a rather brazen yet undistinguished attempt to reconstruct and exploit the trappings of Factory Manchester circa 1985. The funny thing is, the odd crackling guitar line and synthpad chord change apart, they actually don't sound very much like New Order
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4.0
15172
4.0 |
Consequence Of Sound
Their approach to music is tedious but not very creative, the lyrics are weak and generic, and the songs have very little payoff. However, the package is shiny and the delivery well done
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4.0
7816
4.0 |
The Skinny
...if New Order, Delphic's patently obvious inspiration (read: sonically sparse, self-consciously arch crossover music), ever left you cold, this will give you hypothermia
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