Delgados The Great Eastern

In many people's opinion, The Delgados; magnum opus, The Great Eastern remains one of Chemikal Underground's most significant releases. The album itself, named after the homeless shelter a mile or so from Chemikal Undergrounds offices, was a triumphant realization of The Delgados' potential as songwriters and as a live act. Live shows often feature ten musicians on stage (and in one instance at the Royal Festival Hall as many as eighteen), this was clearly not a lo-fi album. The recording process was a protracted one with sessions lasting well over a year. Once again recorded at CAVA with Tony Doogan, it was decided that given some abortive attempts at mixing the thing, Paul, Stewart, and Tony would decamp to Upstate New York and mix the album with Flaming Lips helmer Dave Fridmann. The end result was a resounding success: shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, The Delgados' also received a Spirit Of Scotland Award Music Award, A Nordoff-Robbins Best Newcomer (!) Award and a Jockrock Tartan Cleft Award for The Great Eastern.