John Grant

He is as talented as he is cynical and his effortlessly rich, expansive baritone, couched in typically heartbreaking, lush melody, is present on much of his material throughout his years as a band member and solo artist.

'Queen Of Denmark' gravitas and grace, of FM melody magic laced with raw emotional bleeding. It asks why relationships are roulette and love is hell in a last-ditch attempt at self-improvement.  The album moves through simple piano settings via an infusion of period-perfect synths that epitomize the lonely mood. And on top, to further the album's brilliance, Grant's backing band on the album are Bella Union label-mates MIDLAKE, contributing their most empathic. Put simply, this album is the record Grant's been waiting his whole life to make.

His personal tastes aside, what's for sure is that his is a significant new songwriting voice. Bubbling with lyrical frankness and still-raw emotional wounds, you'll find Queen of Denmark's melodies soothing at the same time its lyrics burrow down to that one remaining exposed nerve.