Leeds Met SU
Sat 1st May @ 9pm
Ever wondered what would happen if you took a random selection of records, peeled them apart layer by layer then and threw them all in together? Say Brendan Butler‟s Suede vocals mashed together with QOTSA beats, or Pulp’s satirical lyrics delivered with Jarvis Cocker’s audacity, merged with Hot Chip‟s electronic repetitions. Such equations are what Grammatics are made of.
The band have been around for a couple of years, but only this year started to gain recognition, having streamlined their melting pot of sounds and cymbals into a more accessible yet equally as complex offering.
Describing themselves as Owen on Squeal, Jangle, Noise Box, Nana’s Keyboard, Dominic banging the Big Tangerine Barrels, Rory on Grime Bass, accompanying with Mutter and Emilia slicing up the Cut-Throat Cello, and providing some Murmers, it’s clear that Grammatics are not your run of the mill indie band.
‘DILEMMA’ sees some of these disparate elements being brought together in an architecturally strong sound, and The Vague Archive is anything but, the direct gear shifts in fact more crisp than on other offerings.
‘Rosa Flood’ is an explosion of energy representative of the disparate elements of Grammatics’ catalogue: a high pitched bridge, stabbing guitars, the undercurrents of The Foals, and a vocal that at times sounds like, er, Lost Prophets.
The delivery gets to work on your nervous system immediately, but the frenetic pace sometimes lacks direction, leaving me feeling frustrated rather than invigorated. Grammatics have certainly challenged the expected limits of music at the moment, but their musical curiosity does at times lead them down paths self indulgent.
Confidence boosted from having made waves across the country supporting Red Light Company last month and being asked to support Bloc Party this Bloctober, combined with the thrill of being home favourites should ensure that Grammatics provide Leeds Met with an intelligent and innovative treat.
