Grey tickles, black pressure

Description

The elusive JOHN GRANT returns with "Grey Tickles, Black Pressure," a third solo album awaited with a delicate bittersweet flavor. JOHN GRANT has experienced a remarkable journey from the moment he feared he would never make music again to his nomination in the Best International Solo Artist category at the BRITS Awards 2014. Two acclaimed first albums as well as numerous collaborations (notably with Sinead O'Connor, Goldfrapp, and Elton John) have indeed paved the solo career of the former founding member of the Czars. In this new album, the American reinvents the two essential components, namely the skillful blend of sumptuous ballads and effervescent electronic sounds. Recorded in Dallas with the help of producer John Congleton (Franz Ferdinand, Swans...), this album once again attests to the disarming honesty and caustic humor that GRANT displays regarding the human condition. The title of the album, which refers both in the Icelandic tradition to the midlife crisis ("Grey Tickles") and in Turkish culture to the idea of nightmare ("Black Pressure"), is not devoid of dark humor. Enclosed by an Intro and Outro filled with biblical references, the twelve tracks contained between these two spoken parentheses are dedicated to evoking the reality of love corrupted by "pain, misunderstandings, jealousy, the objectification of the other, and expectations," according to the artist's words. Between biting humor and pathos, "Grey Tickles, Black Pressure" once again attests to the creative genius of JOHN GRANT.