London Grammar returns with truth is a beautiful thing

In 2013, British trio London Grammar emerged with their song, ‘Hey Now’, which immediately garnered a lot of attention. The group quickly rose to popularity with their debut album, If You Wait, which featured some very ethereal and ambient soundscapes that were perfectly complimented by Hannah Reid’s powerful yet emotive vocals.

London Grammar quickly found their own distinct sound, somewhere halfway in between trip-hop and dream-pop. While the music is as ambient as it is melancholic, Hannah Reid’s vocals always take prominence, allowing the human emotion to shine through.

While If You Wait was one of the best records of 2013, it’s the only album the trio has released so far. Earlier this year, London Grammar fans breathed a sigh of relief. The trio released their first new song since their debut album. ‘Rooting For You’ is one of their most haunting and melancholic works yet. While Hannah Reid’s vocals are always breathtaking, they are especially so on this track, with nearly half the song sung acapella.

The vocal melodies are stunning and reminiscent of classical music while still being very accessible. The addition of the string section and the piano in the second half just seals the deal, making for one goosebump-inducing performance.

Even if ‘Rooting For You’ was the only song to be released before the London Grammar album launch, it would still have been enough to keep fans excited. But the group has further asserted their talent with another single, ‘Big Picture’.

‘Big Picture’ is very different from ‘Rooting For You’, creating more of an atmosphere with the instruments than relying on Hannah Reid’s singing. The song features some seriously tasty guitar playing that keeps the pulse of the song going while adding some interesting hooks.

Their third single, ‘Oh Woman Oh Man’ retains many of the elements found on their debut album. It’s a song that’s very ethereal but very catchy too. With their unique blend of ambient, classical and electronic sounds, London Grammar is a group who’s music can be appreciated by pop and indie music fans alike. They’ve showcased their versatility on the three singles they’ve released so far, but haven’t strayed far from the sound they established on their debut record. While some people would expect them to try something different, it probably best if they don’t.

London Grammar has tapped into something that’s really powerful, and really unique, and their next album promises to be just that.

This article appeared in The Indigo XP a concern of Asianet News Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd.

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