Californian Soil

On Californian Soil, vocalist Hannah Reid takes the reins as London Grammars leader and visionary, delivering a confident, dynamic, and feminist set that is the English trios best to date. Arriving four years after their chart-topping sophomore effort, the album is not a huge departure from the groups brand of soulful dream pop, but with the newfound sonic and thematic focus, the results are brighter, more epic, and quite stunning. Supported by her bandmates Dan Rothman and Dot Major, Reid sounds freshly liberated and brimming with confidence, exposing her emotions with vulnerable self-awareness and pushing her vocals to angelic extremes that evoke predecessors like Dido and Elizabeth Fraser. Echoes of the latter are apparent from the outset, as Californian Soil sounds like a 2021 version of Massive Attacks Teardrop. Didos folktronica spirit courses through tracks such as the swelling Missing, the sparkling groover Baby Its You, and the standout Lose Your Head, which rides its Balearic beat influences along Reids striking layered vocals. On the pulsing Lord Its a Feeling, Reid processes heartbreak through graphic lyrical catharsis before a deep, menacing beat breakdown hammers the pain even deeper. Breakup anthem How Does It Feel extends that sentiment, a fine kiss-off that is Californian Soils clearest pop moment. Across the spectrum, the sparse All My Love draws power from delicate piano backing and Reids angelic high notes, a shiver-inducing highlight that could fill a cathedral. Altogether, this meditative journey soothes and nourishes, transforming heartbreak and pain into an opportunity for growth, bolstered with some of the best production sonics that the trio have ever delivered. Californian Soil is a standout in London Grammars catalog and a significant step forward in the trios artistic maturation. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

UKチャート初登場2位にランクインし、大ブレイクを果たした経歴を持つイギリスのスリー・ピースバンド=London Grammarの4年ぶりの最新作はファン待望のリリースとなっている。メランコリックで哀愁漂う雰囲気の強かった彼らの作品だが、3作目にして光が差したような変化が見られる。Hannah Reidの透明感と神々しさを併せ持つヴォーカルに、ストリングスやエレクトロサウンドの爽やかさが絶妙にマッチしている。バンドが元来持つダークな要素と色彩豊かな音色のバランスが見事で、UKを代表するバンドの一組である彼らがこのアルバムで新境地へと踏み入れたことを証明する傑作の一枚だ。
intoxicate (C)石田真生

イギリスのノッティンガムで結成された3人組バンドによる4年ぶりのサード・アルバム。表題曲や"Missing"がどこかデッド・カン・ダンスを想起させるなど、4ADあたりの音楽を好む者はハマりそうな幽玄さが際立っている。昂揚感を演出する展開がトランシーな"Lose Your Head"や、ハウスのエッセンスが光る"Baby It's You"を筆頭に、ダンス・ミュージック色が濃いエレポップ作品だ。
bounce (C)近藤真弥