Seth Whippet - 04/07/07
Occasionally, and believe you me this doesn't happen nearly as often as the aspiring music journalist might think, you get the metaphorical crap knocked out of you by a band who arrive so perfect, so seemingly fully formed, that it's impossible not to sit up, take notice and then tell the world.
That's why I feel compelled to pay lip service to a (currently) little-known band from Leeds. They're called Grammatics.
It all started when I received the latest Dance To The Radio compilation ('Something I Learned Today') and was taken aback by the first track, 'The Shipping Forecast'. I made a mental note to look up the band, but, dear reader, I'll admit that I forgot. That is, until my phone beeped one evening. "Grammatics are amazing", went the message, from a most trusted source, "You'll love them".
How right the author of said message was. Combining the simpering sensuality of Suede with the pent-up angst of Elliott Smith, and channelling the likes of post-hardcore bands The Dismemberment Plan and Cursive as a means of articulating that youthful frustration, Grammatics sound almost entirely out of step with other contemporary bands who could claim to possess choruses as skyscraper-straddling as theirs.
The aforementioned 'Shipping Forecast' is an ideal introduction for newcomers, but it's songs such as 'The Manageress' and 'Kicking Crutches' that fully display songwriter Owen Brinley's knack of twinning a yearning vocal with aggressive, insistent guitars. Beneath, but never suppressed, works the crunchy rhythm section of bassist Rory O'Hara and drummer Dominic Ord. Adding a distinct classical touch with her cello and supporting on vocals, is Rebecca Dumican.
On hearing their music you'd guess it was produced by at least another couple of pairs of hands; not so. It's what could be deemed the Arcade Fire effect: layer loads of instruments but never oversell the song. Grammatics don't, and it's the understated nature of their music's beauty that makes them so appealing to this writer.
A single, 'Rhyme Scheme', is out in October on Dance To The Radio. But it'd be foolish to wait until then - in the meantime, key in www.myspace.com/grammatics and listen for yourself.
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