The debut LP from English trio London Grammar is an audacious dive into experimentalism. With a splash of art-rock in its interrelationship between subtle percussion, haunting atmospherics and a classical vocals, If You Wait also transcends into interweaving landscapes of folk, prog-rock, electronica and pop. Vocalist Hannah Reid is simultaneously aggressive and ethereal throughout the entire LP. Her emotive voice inspires goosebumps and raised eyebrows, her classically trained pipes lending a flawless and theatrical tone to the music. Dan Rothman brings modest guitar riffs and Dot Major, a multi-instrumentalist, delivers an overstuffed palette of keys, synth and electric drums.
The first track Hey Now introduces its listeners to a complementary relationship between guitar, keys and atmospherics. Dot Major validates his diverse multi-instrumentalist skills by playing eerie piano riffs, light electric percussion and spooky synths over the top of both Dan and Hannah. Hey Now is an appropriate prelude to the remainder of the album. Thematically, the LP is sombre and melancholic in both lyricism and instrumentals. The delicate piano composition in Nightcall is pretty, yet there is an inherent sadness present. This chilling instrumental complements Hannah’s eerie vocals perfectly: “I’m going to drive you through the night, down the hills. I’m going to tell you something you don’t want to hear. I’m going to show you where it’s dumped, but have no fear.”
We see a change in tempo in Flickers and When We Were Young which takes the trio into a pop paradigm. Although a respite from their signature moody repertoire, London Grammar really excel during slower tracks like Hey Now, Nightcall, Stay Awake and Wasting My Young Years. The title track, which is the closing number, concludes with a minute of instrumentation: rising synths that eventually fade out into haunting silence, haunting being one of many adjectives that defines London Grammar. A stunning debut.
BY DINA AMIN
Best Track: Hey Now
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: THE XX, BAT FOR LASHES, PORTISHEAD
In A Word: Haunting
