London Grammar #2 - Strong + Wicked Game

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I'm in danger of turning into a buzz-blog here! I've held back on covering London Grammar again for the simple reason that they and perhaps Haim are 2013's undisputed blog darlings (I know, not you), getting covered on pretty much blog every time they leave their house... However London Grammar have shared two new tracks this past week and I'm not holding back any longer - especially as I'm actually away for five days and this is a pre-written blog - there won't be any 'real-time' posts until Wednesday...

In reverse order, the band shared their cover of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" on Thursday, recorded for their Radio One Maida Vale session. Surely one of the most covered tracks ever, I've featured versions by Widowspeak and ExLovers here before and numerous other versions of course exist, it's perhaps a perfect fit for London Grammar though, their subtle electronic textures may be downbeat and restrained but they also embrace emotion and strength, and what better song to bring out those characteristics than one of the most alluring songs ever written. They do a fine job I think, starting restrained and mellow it soon picks up with their signatures sounds of shimmering soundscapes and Hannah Reid's extraordinary vocals that grow with power and beauty.

Earlier in the week the London trio shared "Feelings", the flip-side to latest release Strong where flickering synths and tropical guitar loops create a laid-back melody for those soaring vocals to beguile once again with the a-side itself "Strong" being exactly that, a truly spine-tingling combination of the bands glacial, minimalist synth-pop effects and haunting vocals, hype can on occasions be justified and I think this is certainly one of those.

London Grammar's debut album If You Wait is released September 9th - expect the adoration to continue.