MUSIC REVIEW: LONDON GRAMMAR – CALIFORNIAN SOIL

English trio London Grammar, which features Hannah Reid (vocals), Dan Rothman (guitarist) and Dot Major (drummer), up their game with their third album Californian Soil. Their most upbeat release yet, Californian Soil sees Reid stepping up to her leadership position, taking control of the band’s visual aesthetic and even opening herself up more in the songwriting process. A departure from their sparser electronic sound on their 2013 debut If You Wait and 2017’s more somber second album Truth Is A Beautiful Thing, Californian Soil sees them enhancing the music with more light and optimism. 

Here, the band broadens their scope beyond their electronic-pop formula for a visually stimulating and sprawling cinematic approach. Though still retaining the gloominess of their previous records, you can say the sound here on Californian Soil has thawed up a bit. Even though they continue to include reverb-drenched guitars, meandering melodies and Reid’s dramatic vocals, the extra ‘umph’ in production really added to the sounds. Orchestral elements like strings tie in a lush sound bringing a more vivid feel to the music. And a club element draws fans from that scene as well. Highlights include the title-track “Californian Soil,” the otherworldly “Lord It’s A Feeling,” the percussive-heavy “Lose Your Head” and the club-inspired “Baby It’s You.”

The band sounds more assured with their most recent release. It looks like they are really coming to their own, embracing their music and themselves and even having some fun in the process. On Californian Soil, a new energy revitalizes the sounds. It is good to see a band pushing themselves to offer new instances in their music, giving audiences something fresh to experience. Though they still retain their spacious electronic vibes, the band expands into club territory with lush orchestrations that certainly add something extra.