Grammar of London are coming back louder, better, and bolder than ever with their first album in almost 4 years, California land. The twelve-track new album, which includes a dramatic two-minute intro, is the band’s follow-up to their stunning 2017 album, Truth Is A Beautiful Thing. The award-winning, three-piece band Hannah Reid, Dominic Major and Dan Rothman have been releasing their own finely crafted soundtrack since early 2013, and their latest release is no exception.
The first of the five singles shared before the album was Baby It’s you, a song the band released as their first solo single since 2017. The intro and lead single by California land, lighter and better looking than many of London Grammar’s previous products with a fresher, wider, and less stuffy production. Hannah Reid’s beautiful vocals are at the center of the crisp, soaring harmonies over the leading piano music that offers a variety of dance moves like, rhythm, rhythm.
The new album’s second single and title track was certainly the track that paved the way for a renewed trio of musicians. If proof is needed that the wait was good and really worth it, the release of a single California land certainly on October 1, 2020. The proper first song, after the cinematic intro, of the album is another song by the signature London Grammar. The epic, beautifully crafted song takes on a Trip-Hop theme reminiscent of Massive Attack and develops it quite brilliantly into a rather distinctive piece of music.
Loss of head, the band’s first single in 2021 and the third to be released as a single from their new album, also uses more Trip-Hop beats as the song’s soundtrack. This, track 4 on the album, is a light and airy number, with a lot of emphasis on Hannah’s ethereal voice and a well-worked, layered, percussion track with a revolving keyboard loop.
How does it feel?and more recently Americas, making up two of the five songs that London Grammar performed prior to the album’s release. Having chosen to feature more than one set of dance-trending songs with their first four releases, London Grammar has returned to typing with a powerful ballad for their latest single. Making the most of the notable USP is the vocals of Hannah Reid, which uses a shortened but extremely effective track to bring out the soulful and smoldering vocals of the lead singer. You can’t help but be completely captivated by the impressive performance that closes the album.
It’s hard to find specific highlights when an album this good has (full) songs. California land are all outstanding songs in their own way. In other places, however, Missing is a less obvious, but still effective piece of music, God is a feeling there’s a set of completely devastating cutscenes and arrests and Talking Show us in a wonderful way what less is sometimes more with another emotional and catchy song you’ve come to love.
The band themselves said that California land marked a “turning point” for them, and lead singer Hannah Reid said of the album, “This record is about taking ownership of my own life, it’s taking back control.” The new twelve-song album, which saw the band make a subtle but distinct change in their sound, was scheduled to be released on February 12 but was delayed by more than two years. months due to production problems. Finally able to share California land to the world of London Grammar would surely explode with pride to once again deliver such a great album. The pressure to replicate, or even exceed the quality of their previous work must be quite intense. It’s not easy to make good and stable music like this. The entire album is a great win from start to finish. Great musical ability, string arrangement not only elevates but enhances each track, and Hannah Reid’s vocals never fail to captivate and amaze.
