Star Tiger Star Ariel is the fourth studio album by English rock band Delays. The album was released on 21 June 2010 through Lookout Mountain Records. Less than a year after the release of their third studio album Everything's the Rush, the band left Fiction Records in early 2009. Around this time, they were demoing material for its follow-up. In September 2009, they recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales and NAM Studios in Holt, with Duncan Lewis, Tom Dalgety and the band acting as producers. Star Tiger Star Ariel received mixed reviews from critics, some commenting on the band's experimentation, others thought it was uninspiring. It features a stripped-down sound, compared to the band's previous albums. Preceding the album's release, the band went on a tour of the United Kingdom. "Unsung" was released as the album's lead single in June 2010; later in the year, they went on another UK tour. Background Delays released their third studio album Everything's the Rush in May 2008 through Fiction and Polydor Records. The album, which peaked at number 26 on the UK Albums Chart, was promoted with a tour and various festivals around the UK. In February 2009, the band announced left Fiction Records; they also said they were in the process of demoing material for their next album. "Rhapsody" and "Unsung" were made available on their Myspace profile. Star Tiger Star Ariel was recorded in September 2009 at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales, while additional vocals for "Star Tiger, Star Ariel" were recorded at NAM Studios in Holt. Duncan Lewis, Tom Dalgety and the band produced the proceedings; Aaron Gilbert did additional production at Cellar Door. Dalgety handled record, as well as mixing with the band, bar "Unsung", at Evansson Audio Media in Bath. "Unsung" was mixed by Steve Power at T.O.P. Studio in London. Kevin Metcalfe mastered the album at Soundmasters in London. Composition In the context of their other albums, Greg Gilbert said Star Tiger Star Ariel "sounds like roots beneath the city shaking the buildings at night. This record is about being lost, and the dream of being found". He said they intentionally wanted a stripped-down sound to counter the orchestra arrangements heard on Everything's the Rush. The members felt inspired by driving around the New Forest national park. The album opens with the Middle Eastern-inspired ambient song "Find a Home (New Forest Shaker)", which is followed by