London Grammar have hit the mark with album #2. Their previous release If You Wait was special, but this time around they have stepped it up another notch. Opening with ‘Rooting For You’ we are pitted into a cinematic dreamscape where the protagonist is second guessing a relationship with a girl that he’s liked for quite a while. The tempo is moderate, but it’s slow build of instrumentation and string arrangements will blissfully grab your ears.
Three years away working on Truth Is A Beautiful Thing has definitely paid dividends, because lyrically this is front woman Hannah Reid in her most emotionally vulnerable state. Such an example can be seen in the track Big Picture where Reid sings ‘Don’t say you ever loved me’ and ‘I swear these scars are fine’. The instrumentation is full of colour and the shiver making falsetto creates this as a definite highlight. Slow attacks of violins accompany the opening to Wild Eyed, which after many listens through of this album since it’s release, is one of my favourites.
This is an album full of emotionally charged tracks that have the signature London Grammar sound. If you weren’t a fan before now, you will be soon.
4/5
Metal & Dust Ministry of Sound
Reviewed by Tex Miller