If You Wait

English trio London Grammar have quietly amassed a body of atmospheric, electronic pop material since they first posted "Metal & Dust" on the internet in 2012. Partnered with an appearance on Disclosure's Mercury-nominated album Settle, the Nottingham University alumni had set the internet hype machine in motion, less than a year after forming. With obvious nods to the unfussy, reverbed guitar motifs of the xx, alongside Hannah Reid's beautiful, emotive vocal ability -- which rises and falls with an alarmingly disarming effect -- the album is a practice in refrain, where each song is pushed to the brink of an inevitable climax and achingly, no further. The percussive production, synths, and basslines provided by multi-instrumentalist Dot Major, build on this sense of drama and urgency and are displayed perfectly in one of the highlights of the record, "Wasting My Young Years." Its throbbing chorus is chastened by the slow-burning synths and guitars that come together with stunning results when coupled with Reid's vocal delivery. The obvious confidence Reid has in her own voice belies the apparent vulnerability in the words she sings throughout, and the piano ballad "Strong" is testament to the loneliness and heartbreak that encapsulates the brooding feel of the album, which conflicts with the almost upbeat, danceable moments scattered amongst "Flickers" and "Stay Awake." They pay homage to their electronic influences mid-album with a rework of Kavinsky's "Nightcall" that unfolds gently into one of the most boisterous cuts on the record. It's no surprise that Reid's strong vocals are at the forefront of London Grammar's sound, and her voice dominates their music in much the same way as Florence Welch's does in Florence + the Machine. However, although at times they come close to overshadowing the subtle instrumentation provided by Major and Dan Rothman, it’s actually the intrinsic balance between the contributions of all three that defines their sound. ~ Scott Kerr

ダークな音楽性や男2人+女1人という編成からXXとも比較される新世代トリオの、全英チャートで2位を記録した話題の処女作。ギターとシンセで描いたメロウな楽曲の旨味もさることながら、英国人のハートをジャックした理由は紅一点ハナ・リードの歌声にありそう。大学卒業ホヤホヤの若い感性で〈青春から遠のいていく心情〉や〈社会に出る不安〉を率直に綴った詞を、ディスクロージャーにも起用された少し低めの声でエモーショナルに歌い上げる様には、ラナ・デル・レイやフローレンス&ザ・マシーン、さらにはトレイシー・ソーンをも彷彿とさせる魅力がある。ダンス・ミュージックとも接続可能な余白が感じられる点も含め、今後も各方面と絶妙な距離を保ちながら進化していきそう。早めにチェックを!
bounce (C)佐藤大作