Delphic
When: 7th March 2010
Where: Stoke Sugarmill
Never before has there been a more dramatic understatement than the following: “Please be aware that there will be heavy use of strobe lighting during tonight's performance.” This is the mandatory poster dotted around the Stoke Sugarmill prior to Delphic's sell out appearance, and yet it's stern warning comes nowhere near to describing the reality. Sixty minutes and twenty four strobe lights later, those present will forever understand the term “sensory overload”.
Yet far from being just a set of fancy lights, Delphic's performance tonight is that of pure quality and consideration. Rolled together as a live mix, each track intertwines in a web of rich synth and saturated bass lines, creating the “wall of sound” effect the band work so hard on and are rightly proud of. From pop tinged “Doubt” to the mesmeric “Red Light”, vocalist James Cook and his accomplices remain focused and impressively tight. Without so much as a note out of place amongst the cacophonous melee, the band demonstrate impressive professionalism.
Even a distracting section of the crowd, single-celled amoebas well acquainted with the venue bar, cannot sway their focus. Despite incessant crowd surfing and moronic chanting, “YOU WHAT? YOU WHAT?” being a particular favourite, the set maintains it's distinctive flow.
And it is this flow that is most striking about tonight's performance. In drummer Dan Hadley the band have a solid spine on which to build their intricate detail, his solid beats becoming the heartbeat of every moment.
New single “Halcyon” pulses forward in determined fashion, yet it is penultimate track “Counterpoint” that shines the brightest. With each element of the visual and aural experience coming together at the chorus, Cook's voices soars majestically amidst twinkling synth and blasting drums in a moment of true beauty and passion.
It is in moments like these that Delphic's class is as striking as their light show. Forget ill informed talk of New Order rip offs, Manchester wannabes and one trick ponies, the Delphic experience is the real deal in every single sense.
Words: Dan Grose
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