Grant Swarbrooke, a vocal artist from southern England, has emerged as a sublime figure amidst the nation’s gradual slowdown due to political, social, and territorial constraints. His extraordinary ability to absorb disquiet and bewilderment serves as a catalyst, antenna, and feather that transmutes negative energy into a tilted smile, where anything is possible.
Swarbrooke’s music is characterised by its tumultuous nature, mirroring the intensity of his vocal delivery. Notably, his vocal style defies the modern perception of simplicity as a sign of mediocrity.
Grant’s music blends folk with ambient music, creating a harmonious fusion of nature’s sounds and metaphysical combinations. This fusion results in a compact and effective whole, scaffolding lyrics that pose challenges for those seeking comprehension. However, a sublime bewilderment leads to the zone of intimacy, a sanctuary that demands confidentiality. His writing is not intended as an emotional dump or a rational exposition.
In his verbal creations, mental gyms, hints, and shadows emerge, granting the listener the privilege of perceiving them but not identifying their true nature.
A voice that is an earthquake, punishing, attracting, upsetting, and cleansing the listener’s soul in a liquid that transforms thrill into absolute concreteness watches over, controls, and expands the lyrics.
Two EPs and a single have been analysed by the Old Scribe, who recognises Grant Swarbrooke’s impressive line-up of merits in his English artistry. These autumnal songs, while stopping winter, whisper incomprehensible words to it, employing a powerful and effective play of deception.
When he decides to provide the notes with greater space, one can discern how the visual scenarios are the offspring of a sensitivity that seeks to shorten the gaze towards the sky, with a minimalist choice that does not permit excessive variations, all this not because of a limitation but because of a predisposition to embrace the sound more than to seek the alteration of chords, evoking emotions and providing a substantial satisfaction that, while incomprehensible, permeates the veins.
The debut was truly remarkable: arriving at a juncture when British auteur music was experiencing a crisis of expression and content, “And the World Spins on” emerged as a vibrant kaleidoscope of the senses, comprising four tracks that dispelled the apprehension of sterility that seemed to stifle the potential of auteur music.
In particular, the pursuit of colours prevails over words and production, imparting a distinct set of tension and curiosity.
Subsequent to the E.P. “Sleepers,” the trajectory undergoes a transformative shift, extending the reach of an unstoppable talent: the compositions become more intricate, and the acoustic guitar finds an ideal partner in the electric guitar, launching notes strategically infused with emulsions and invitations to contemplate the earthly realm as a dutiful accompaniment to the dream.
The concluding single, “Luminal Fall,” affirms a fundamental growth: I will elaborate on this aspect in due course, but I find it fitting to believe that the prodigy’s future matured during those delectable yet arduous minutes.
A man who appreciates the immense support of Huey Morgan of the legendary Fun Lovin’ Criminals: accompanied by his wife, they make a resolute decision to provide unwavering support, surround him with encouragement, and become the initial witnesses to a courageous spirit that transcends the boundaries of the earth.
This is a work, his own, moving and resonant, imbued with its own character, intention, pliability, rigidity, and capacity to enchant.
The nature of this music may appear austere and introspective, yet it offers minute portals that lead to a sanctuary of listening. This allows the bittersweet vision and distinctive guitar playing to become a tense, spasmodic will to penetrate the inner sanctums of one’s own thoughts, a unique characteristic of the greatest music.
The instrumentation is sparse, often evoking the sound of an orchestra in flight, vibrating, and harmonising, as if classical music were a perpetual muse in a state of counsel.
However, the layered, rich, and refined sounds can pose challenges for the listener in fully comprehending them. The percussive balance is impeccable, and there is an impression of a resounding silence within these sounds, serving as a catalyst for enlightenment and a much-needed sense of completeness.
Song by Song
1. Wake Up
The song commences with an awakening, a moral ascendancy, and a series of openings that transcend the confines of a couple’s relationship. A guitar leads us to Tom McRae, accompanied by a voice that evokes a sense of emotional turmoil and tears. The cunning piano notes create a mantra that establishes a connection between rhythm and harmony, fostering a perceptible will to embrace diverse heights. The music and voice perfectly execute this vision.
2. And the World Spins on
The song delves into the depths of personal pain and the thunderous forces of nature, juxtaposing these tense sounds and chords with an understanding that propels the new acoustic movement to grasp the possibilities it had previously denied itself.
Grant then illuminates the entire piece with a solo that is both daring and transformative. It envelops and vibrates, distorting to welcome the voice that remains almost in the shadows. This transformation elevates the entire piece to the majestic flight of a royal eagle. The sense of perdition hinted at in the lyrics is overshadowed by the realisation of the impact on the ground, leaving no room for despair.
Despite its pop song origins, this piece is veiled in pure, truthful drama.
3 - State of Grace
The freedom to allow another person to live unhindered is a gamble, an ordeal even difficult to envision. Grant picks up his acoustic guitar, incidentally always accompanied by faint, almost imperceptible atmospheric noises, and decides to offer his voice the role of reviving that vibrant form of ambient folk that captivated the United Kingdom in the 1990s. A diminutive yet powerful acoustic guitar solo propels us into the American Dark Folk genre, where dreams and reality intertwine in this non-ballad.
4 - Days of Pitchford
Slag, lightning, and sonic shavings vibrate in the initial few seconds, and then, amidst the Bad Seeds and David Eugene Edwards, a pleasant, slow struggle ensues to impart a western feel to a message that, despite its wordlessness, conveys the language of fear and confusion. This approach ultimately becomes a perfect metaphor for the current distances.
5 - Sleepers
On a day with limited light, the seagulls of Bath seek the wind. The piano’s notes descend from the sky, and George Wilson’s strings evoke a sense of trepidation.
You live, you make choices, and you sleep: within this circle of senses, the music possesses a direction, guiding the poignancy of an alternative on the brink of sadness to become the foundation upon which tears can be dried.
A few chords, the voice following the seagulls, and the piano lead us into an intimate and uncertain flight, where the Seventies reclaim their former glory with this track that would have been coveted by many.
When beauty achieves this, immersing oneself in emotion forges a new and distinct identity.
6 - Rainbows
What do rainbows hold for Grant?
The electric guitar establishes a captivating atmosphere, drawing listeners into a realm of oblivion, torment, and a glimmer of hope. Martin Murphy’s precise drumming provides a disciplined accompaniment, enhancing the enchanting beauty of the track.
Ultimately, the song transcends genres, blending blues, soul, and pop elements. It transforms into a celestial entity, adorned with rainbows, awaiting its rebirth.
7 - Out of Sea
The song opens with waves and arpeggios, transporting listeners to the vast ocean. The soaring yet hushed lyrics evoke a sense of tranquility, as days pass but love remains steadfast. Piano chimes evoke the French singer-songwriters of the 1950s, leading to an anarchic flight of notes in search of words that can alleviate the daze.
8 - SleepersReprise
The song builds upon the concept of “Sleepers,” exploring its origins and evolution. The ambient approach entrusts the surrounding hissing sounds with the task of nurturing the ravenous voice.
9 - Liminal Fall
The sea and distant boats create a sense of flatness and anticipation, akin to the dramatic introduction. However, the melodic turn of the song delivers a sudden, unexpected impact, akin to a slap or a bruise.
The rhythm gradually builds, culminating in a powerful drumbeat that mirrors the intensity of the voice and words. The drums cease, leaving behind a haunting wail. Martin Murphy’s bass drives the ensemble to perfection.
The song concludes with a guitar’s farewell to dream pop and chaos, achieving a harmonious balance in sound and production. Tears transform into an endless circle, symbolising the transcendence of boundaries and embracing the unknown.
This piece appears to mark the baptism of an artistic era that possesses its identity and can embark on a journey of boundless exploration.
Alex Dematteis
Musicshockworld
Salford
21st February 2025
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7aD2kWK5ls9dtcKhX2hxis?si=9Husphg3SQSb4pAyDjxIeA
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