London Grammar’s Pristine, Glowing Debut [stream]

Songs contain colors and textures that we then use to construct mental images, and despite London Grammar’s pristine electronics, their sound delicately paints a picture that is both warm and enticing — one that nudges the senses into immersion mode.

Closer to goddess than ghost, Hannah Reid’s luminous vocals are the sheen on the textured metallic mechanism that is their sound, yet there’s an undeniable organic element to their music that makes it interesting. It may be that, much like their EP cover, London Grammar’s sound is like the dawn or dusk, slow changing colors, patiently creeping along before expanding to the next phase of growth — light to dark, quiet to loud, moving in full circle just like the nature of living things. Or, could it be the very human, very relatable lyrics, that sing of the deteriorating nature of organisms? Everything that is alive must die, but first it corrodes or rusts. The title track explains, “And so you build a life on trust, though it starts with love and lust, and when your house begins to rust, oh, it’s just metal and dust.”

The inevitability of change and the longing that spurs from detachment is something this trio does very well. They somehow find a way to convey all of these emotions on their debut EP, Metal & Dust, by means of carefully placed instrumentation and intricately layered tracks that are overflowing with both shadows and light. Finally, making its way to the US, London Grammar’s debut EP, Metal & Dust, will be available June 25. Listen to the stunning title track above, then make it your own in just a week.