Part of the problem with London Grammar’s first album, If You Wait, is that each song was weighted down by dark moods, emotion, and tone. That’s not a bad thing, not at all, but it did make listening to the full album a little punishing, at least for me.
That’s probably why I have found the run up to the band’s new album to be so refreshing. With the release of four singles and counting, most recently “Oh Woman, Oh Man”, each song has been so impressive manly by standing on their own. This may be the best way to listen to London Grammar, as each song is so deeply thought out, so intimately rendered, that, when they are coupled together, can become a little overwhelming for the listener. If it where up to me, I would have the band release all their songs one at a time, once a month say, with videos to accompany them.
That’s just me, and if “Oh Woman Oh Man” is the last release before the album release it’s a fitting one. While not quite reaching the heights of “Big Picture”, the song is a beautiful example of longing for love, with an atmosphere reminiscent of PJ Harvey’s Is This Desire period which is special in itself.
With all four singles it’s clear that London Grammar have become a tighter, more confident band, with their own distinctive style and sound that sounds vital and is sure to be one of 2017s most defining bands.
