– London Grammar – live at London Calling 2013-2 – November 2, 2013 – VPRO/3FM –
London Grammar in concert at London Calling 2013. Recorded on November 3rd by VPRO in Hilversum. What was shaping up to being a pretty extraordinary year for London Grammar they were getting the message out in a huge way, and getting a solid following of support from fans from the almost non-stop touring they did in 2013.
With a schedule that went non-stop until April of 2014 when they landed in Austin for SXSW, they were were making the most of the momentum, only to stop periodically for breathers.
Cut to March 2024, when London Grammar teased the release of their fourth album on their Instagram page, showing a white background with a blurred image of a bee. This was confirmed as an album tease by vocalist Hannah Reid on her personal Instagram (@hannahmayreid) on March 20th, when she posted a photo of her new haircut and baby with the comment “Entering my mum era with bangs and brown hair. Oh and album 4 era”.
On April 5th, the first track “House” was released, with the news that their fourth album The Greatest Love would follow later this year. A second track from the album called “Kind of Man” was released on May 17th. A third track from the album called “Into Gold” was released on June 21st.
London Grammar’s music has been described as “a blend of ambient, ethereal and classical sounds” with melancholy guitar, soaring vocals, plaintive lyrics, and often displaying trip-hop and dance influences. Hannah Reid’s powerful, haunting vocals – prominent on all of London Grammar’s tracks released to date – are often compared to those of Judie Tzuke and Florence Welch. The songs are a collaborative effort, as Reid explains: “I write the lyrics and the top lines. But the songs initiate from all three of us. Dot will write a piano part or a music score. Dan will add some guitars.” She describes the songs as “emotionally affected” and said that she “writes about people who come in and out of my life.”
This morning it’s London Grammar from the second installment of the London Calling 2013 Festival. The first installment took place in May and this second installment went on the first week in November. This set was recorded on November 2nd at the fabled Paradiso in Amsterdam.
Here comes Tuesday.
