In case you haven’t noticed, electronic and dance music in this country is in rude health and as ever London is the melting pot for a new generation of acts making some of the most exciting music around, among them SBTRKT, Jessie Ware and AlunaGeorge to name just a few. As you may have already worked out London Grammar also hail from our nation’s capital and are the latest to break through early blogosphere buzz surrounding their first release Hey Now and go straight into the charts, earning themselves more critical plaudits along the way.
The group formed at Nottingham University in 2009 consisting of vocalist Hannah Reid, guitarist Dan Rothman and multi-instrumentalist Dot Major. Gigwise described their music as a “blend of ambient, ethereal and classical sounds”, while the Telegraph praised their “arty, plaintive pop.” Trading in dramatic ballads with heavily-synthesized backdrops and Reid’s spine-tingling vocals at the forefront, London Grammar’s debut extended play Metal & Dust yielded favourable comparisons to Lana Del Rey, Florence & the Machine and most frequently, the XX, with whom they continue to blur the line between electronic and indie music in their use of delicate echoing guitars. In fact the other London trio have become patrons of sort of the band, inviting them to perform at their latest self-curated Night + Day Festival in June alongside other similar minded groups like Poliça and Mount Kimbie as part of a wave of bands bringing some moody midnight hush to the stereotypically rowdy, cacophonous world of electronic music. They may get sick of the XX association but none of the comparisons they’ve received are really that far off the mark: anyone wishing Florence would tone down the bombast and the XX would quit with the foreplay and get down to it or even just think Lana Del Rey should get over her daddy issues will find much to love in London Grammar.
Like so many of the class of 2013, London Grammar have received their largest mainstream exposure yet courtesy of a guest spot on Disclosure’s acclaimed debut Settle on album closer Help Me Lose My Mind. Following their work with the Lawrence brothers, the trio are now looking to strike out on their own after single Wasting My Young Years which peaked inside the Top 40. Rather than rush to complete an album however, London Grammar have taken the time to develop their material, also cultivating a reputation for powerful, emotive performances which will be seen across the U.K. as they venture on their first headline tour this October once they have completed their upcoming festival dates at Bestival, Standon Calling, Ibiza Rocks and more. You can be sure Gigslutz will be there to see just how far this group have come in the past year.
On September 1st London Grammar release their next single Strong, a tune that’s actually been knocking about since their very first shows together. A longstanding fan favourite, the song is an immaculately-crafted slow burner that takes its production cues from the quieter, subtler moments on Chromatics’ Kill for Love record. It’s an astounding taster to whet the appetite before debut full-length If You Wait drops on September 9th.
We’re already salivating, bring it on.
Elliott Homer
@ERHomer
