Californian Soil

by London Grammar

Overview

On Californian Soil, vocalist Hannah Reid takes the reins as London Grammar's leader and visionary, delivering a confident, dynamic, and feminist set that is the English trio's best to date. Arriving four years after their chart-topping sophomore effort, the album is not a huge departure from the group's brand of soulful dream pop, but with the newfound sonic and thematic focus, the results are brighter, more epic, and quite stunning. Supported by her bandmates Dan Rothman and Dot Major, Reid sounds freshly liberated and brimming with confidence, exposing her emotions with vulnerable self-awareness and pushing her vocals to angelic extremes that evoke predecessors like Dido and Elizabeth Fraser. Echoes of the latter are apparent from the outset, as "Californian Soil" sounds like a 2021 version of Massive Attack's "Teardrop." Dido's folktronica spirit courses through tracks such as the swelling "Missing," the sparkling groover "Baby It's You," and the standout "Lose Your Head," which rides its Balearic beat influences along Reid's striking layered vocals. On the pulsing "Lord It's a Feeling," Reid processes heartbreak through graphic lyrical catharsis before a deep, menacing beat breakdown hammers the pain even deeper. Breakup anthem "How Does It Feel" extends that sentiment, a fine kiss-off that is Californian Soil's clearest pop moment. Across the spectrum, the sparse "All My Love" draws power from delicate piano backing and Reid's angelic high notes, a shiver-inducing highlight that could fill a cathedral. Altogether, this meditative journey soothes and nourishes, transforming heartbreak and pain into an opportunity for growth, bolstered with some of the best production sonics that the trio have ever delivered. Californian Soil is a standout in London Grammar's catalog and a significant step forward in the trio's artistic maturation. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	04/23/2021
Label:	Ministry Of Sound
UPC:	0194398263014
Rank:	71067

Album Credits

Performance Credits

London Grammar   Primary Artist
Ian Humphries   Violin
Mike Hough   Vocals (Background)
Sharlene Hector   Vocals (Background)
Brendan Reilly   Vocals (Background)
Ian Burdge   Cello
Rachel Robson   Viola
Hannah Reid   Keyboards,Vocals
Andy Marshall   Double Bass
Hal Riston   Guitar
Julia Singleton   Violin
Vula Malinga   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Alison Dods   Violin
Tony Woollard   Cello
Daniel Rothman   Guitar,Keyboards
Rick Koster   Violin
Claire Orsler   Viola
Phoebe Edwards   Vocals (Background)
Marianne Haynes   Violin
Kirsty Mangan   Viola,Violin,Keyboards
Phebe Edwards   Vocals (Background)
Tony Wollard   Cello
Dot Major   Drums,Keyboards
Everton Nelson   Violin,String Director
Sally Herbert   Conductor
Warren Zielinski   Violin
Chris Laws   Drums
Alison Dodds   Violin
Bruce White   Viola
Richard George   Violin
Chris Worsey   Cello
Chris Laurence   Double Bass
Steve Mac   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Tom Elmhirst   Mixing
Matt Wiggins   Engineer
Daniel Pursey   Engineer
Olli Cunningham   Supervisor
Hannah Reid   Composer,Lyricist,Programming,Sound Concepts
Amy Stewart   Contractor,Strings Contractor
Jay Pocknell   Engineer
Matthew Scatchell   Mixing Engineer
Daniel Rothman   Composer,Programming,Sound Concepts
Charlie Andrew   Producer
George FitzGerald   Effects,Composer,Producer,Programming,Sound Concepts
Al Shux   Composer
My Riot   Recording,Programming,Vocal Engineer
Kirsty Mangan   Arranger,String Arrangements
London Grammar   Producer
Dot Major   Composer,Programming,Sound Concepts
Serban Ghenea   Mixing
Chris Gehringer   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Sally Herbert   Arranger,String Arrangements
John Hanes   Mixing Engineer
Robbie Nelson   Recording,String Engineer
Chris Laws   Engineer
Nathan Boddy   Mixing,Producer
Steve Mac   Composer,Producer