This album was highly anticipated and rightly so. It was worth the wait. Each song is a beautifully created masterpiece and it has to be one of the few albums where you will listen to every track, not even feeling the urge to press the skip button. From the orchestral movements of "The Light Before We Land" to the almost child like intro of "All You Need Is Hate", it gets better and better. One ironic thing to point out, despite the last track I mentioned having a name that suggests despair and such things, the track itself if skippy and happy. And a little warning to you friend: The chorus of "If This Is A Plan" is extremely infectious.

So put it in simple words: Hate, prepare to start loving it.

Very few albums deserve 5 stars, and this pushes hard for that accolade - it's easily the equal of The Great Eastern, and should last repeated listening like it's predecessor. Opening two tracks 'The Light Before We Land', and 'All You Need Is Hate' are beauties, and show off Dave Fridmann's production well. A couple of tracks could have done with keeping the pace up a bit more than they do, but on the whole, the songs are great. 'Coming In From The Cold' is fantastic, with a verse to die for. The Delgados really drive home their choruses, and there are few bands out there who could write as beatifully orchestrated choruses as those in 'All Rise' and, as one reviewer pointed out, 'If This Is A Plan'. A lovely, accomplished work.

Having loved the Delgados for many years I always face a new release with trepidation - will they get happy?, will they mellow with age?, will they morph into the Coors? no no no no no. Hate is a natural progression from 'The Great Eastern' and therefore from 'Peloton', packed full of anger, challenge, humour and as a previous reviewer put it chaos. The lyrics force you to listen and question, the depth of the arrangements give a longevity of listening few others can match and all topped off with catchy, almost singalong, choruses. 'Child Killers', 'Favours' and 'Never Look at the Sun' are all standouts but each track has its own individuality yet manage to weave together a true work of art.

Yes anime has done it to me again. Opened yet another unknown door to brilliant visual and music treasures. The opening theme of "The Light Before We Land" has blessed my ears with such melancholy richness that I had to buy the album. Though the title "Hate" is a bit grimacing, don't be put off by it. The music is more about being on the receiving end of the emotion than the perpetrator. That's why this music fits so well with the anime. "The girl has a mechanical body, but she is still an adolescent child". Check out both and the door will be opened for you too.

An album that intorduced me to the affects a band can have on a person. 'Peloton' looked at me, 'The Great Eastern' asked me what my favourite song was, and 'Hate' put it on the jukebox. 'Coming In From The Cold' is quite..... (O.E.D.) you will have to come up with a word. At this moment I am listening to 'If this is a Plan' and I'm enjoying it! Roll on the Lyric.