The Delgados - The Complete BBC Peel Sessions

Genre rock Publisher Chemikal Underground External Links Official The Delgados Website Official Chemikal Underground Website

The peril of live-in-studio recordings is regurgitation: that nothing more will be produced than a stripped-down and likely sloppier version of what's on the album. Conversely, the allure stems from the potential of capturing the intimacy and energy of a live performance in a more controlled, better-sounding setting than onstage, before a crowd. The Delgados' Complete BBC Peel Sessions is a stellar example of what happens when live-in-studio goes right. The sessions collected here span the now-defunct band's entire career, from the punkish early era of Domestiques up to the orchestral melodic pop of Universal Audio, neatly plotting the growth of one of the best bands ever to hail from Scotland.

Disc 1 covers the band's first two albums, with highlights in "Under Canvas Under Wraps," "4th Channel," and "Sucrose." The latter's moments of sweetness point toward the future of the band's sound, but the bulk of the these early tunes are straightforward, riff-driven rockers. "Lazarwalker," while muscular, shows a young band, more than a little nervous, roaring through its first big live recording session, never dreaming that the results would be impressive enough to attract the attention of massively influential BBC DJ John Peel, who did so much for the band's career (despite the album's name, the first session was recorded for a program on Radio Scotland). Peel's legendary ear was right to hear potential in these rough but solid songs. The session documenting the songs of Peloton demonstrates a band more sure of itself, starting to take chances, always seeking musical development.

The second disc shows off the Delgados' successful integration of chamber music instruments - violin, cello, flute - into their sound. "Accused of Stealing" and "Ave Today" are post-chamber pop masterpieces, beautiful without being cloying, lacking the preciousness of fellow Scots Belle and Sebastian. Emma Pollock's simple, sweet voice is a masterful instrument in its own right, sincere but restrained, and her talent at live singing amazes again and again (contrast guitarist and vocalist Alun Woodward's endearing but distracting shakiness). For their sixth session, the band recorded four covers, of which Cat Stevens's "Matthew And Son" is the best, given a sturdy rock treatment.

Fans will find The Complete BBC Peel Sessions an essential supplement to the Delgados' catalog. As a bonus, the liner notes, penned by bassist Stewart Henderson, include anecdotes and detailed information about the sessions and the personnel involved. But the pleasure of the recordings is such that they are accessible to those unfamiliar with the Delgados, making this record not just a history of skilled, artful songwriters and musicians, but a safe purchase for just about anyone.