London Grammar
If You Wait
Reviewed by: Stephen Krock
Do you want the good news or the bad news first? Okay, the good news is that if you’re a fan of both the guttural, throaty wail of Florence Welch and also of the softer, angelic whispers of Ellie Goulding, London Grammar has both in spades. Vocally, leading lady Hannah Reid is undeniably strong. Able to sound as powerful as our beloved Flo + the Machine, but conveying vulnerability with much more success. A great help to this effect are the classical orchestral influences found within If You Wait. Particularly on the title track. It is all ethereal, emotionally charged, and lovely. From start to finish. Therein lies the bad news. It requires active listening to truly grasp the depth of the lyrics, which are actually quite good. However, it’s difficult to pull yourself out of the reverie once it starts. And there isn’t a song in the bunch to help you out of it. Although, “Hey Now” and “Shyer” are valiant attempts. This isn’t to say that the reverie isn’t nice. It just keeps London Grammar at nice and good, rather than outstanding.
Rating: Listenable
