Delphic’s much awaited debut Acolyte begins with glitchy electronic clicks and persistently dramatic staccato synths before exploding into a pounding drum pattern overlaid with swelling keyboards and a fist-in-the-air chorus of ‘a call to arms, a call to arms!’.It’s an aptly titled opening (‘Clarion Call’) to an album that wastes no time in giving you an ultimatum; become an acolyte and heed their oracle, or else. Amusingly, you’ll probably jump at the chance.With the two singles ‘Doubt’ and ‘This Momentary’ clustered together as second and third tracks respectively, there is an initial concern that the record will be top-loaded; a concern quickly disproved. Whilst both the aforementioned are delightfully atmospheric electro-pop tunes, the album as a whole is measured and cohesive. Delphic’s self-suggested moniker of ‘post-dance’ seems actually insightful; these ten tracks could almost be described as IDM filled with harmony and a highly rewarding grasp of dynamics.The mid-point eponymous track begins much more pensively than the previous four; chords fade in and out suggestively until the steady beat and heavily phased synths build and swell to a false crescendo, resorting back to the elegant fade ins. Then, the beat proper is introduced alongside a range of awesome electronic percussion and a walking bassline; wordless vocal harmonies fill out the mix ending only in the best drop of the LP; it’s a intense moment and one that, in a sense, is the lynchpin of the Delphic sound.If nothing else this track demonstrates the Manchester trio (what is it with the Manchester electro scene anyway?!) are just as comfortable with dense instrumental dance as they are more broaching the mainstream with catchy vocal harmonies and big drops.Delphic were always promising and this debut delivers. A near-faultless journey through their more accessible singles to a dense inner core, ending with the arguably even better, mesmeric combo of ‘Submission’, ‘Counterpoint’ and ‘Ephemera’. 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.