London Grammar - If You Wait

Usually when the music world finds a band that they deem to be the "next big thing", there's a relative amount of hype surrounding the release of their debut record. Not so with London Grammar, a British trio who recently released their first album If You Wait after just one EP released in February 2013.

Source: Allmusic

It's slightly baffling to see how London Grammar, a fledgling band, have managed to leap from relative anonymity to reaching Number 2 on UK and Australian charts. It's no mean feat. Part of the success is down to the stripped-back instrumental backing, meaning they have a slightly ambiguous style, thus allowing them to appeal to any music fan. It does also mean, however, that they don't ever really allow the songs to grow at any point, and they remain on the same level for a lot of the time.

It's due to the problem that, like quite a few emerging artists who are scared of doing anything to jeopardise commercial success, they are too unsure of themselves and their sound, so they stick to what they know and are comfortable doing. It means that they never properly allow the songs to move anywhere else, anywhere different or surprising. As an emerging artist, it's their right to show off with what they can do. London Grammar seem too focused on catching the public eye to reveal the true extent of their talents. In their single Wasting My Young Years, vocalist Hannah Read sings beautiful, moving lyrics about her ex-boyfriend in a beautifully moving way, and the chorus builds up momentum gradually, although it then dies back down again straight afterwards, reverting to what it was before. Daughter, who have a similar style to London Grammar, manage to do both introspective and demonstrative at the same time, so it's not a question of whether or not it can be done. It's a question of whether or not they can do it.

That said, they are quietly insistent in their music, which is mainly due to Read's extraordinary talent as a vocalist. Her voice soars above the rest of the songs and really makes them complete. Nightcall is a very good example of this; it seems as though the rest of the band are there to provide a backdrop to Read's centre piece. Although it is a brilliant song, the lack of growth in the piano and guitar means that the song can't ever reach its full potential.

There's no denying that the basic structure of the songs and the band is good. But they're lacking in something other than their vocals to make them stand out. They need to flesh out other areas of the band in order to make them, not just good, but very good indeed.

Rating: 5-6

Recommended Tracks:
Nightcall
Hey Now
Strong