ALBUM REVIEW - John Grant - Pale Green Ghosts

John Grant:
Pale Green Ghosts:
Bella Union:
Out Now:

8/10

There’s no doubt it – John Grant has ‘it’, but he may (or may not) already know that. Casting aside his glare on the front cover, Grant's menacing demeanour reaches a head on the potty-mouth anthem GMF whereupon he declares, in no uncertain terms, that he is “the greatest motherfucker you’re ever going to meet” – I doubt many would argue with him – he’s delivered a thoroughly engaging album here. 

Recently, Pale Green Ghosts occupied #16 on the UK album chart, a considerable feat when you consider the talentless arse-cracks surrounding it that week. While those very same deluded fools remain in the listings, Grant’s triumphant sideswipe thunders on, well away from the mainstream. The title-track kicks things off like a brooding electronic hybrid of Midlake, Mirwais and Dead Can Dance (Grant’s rich baritone resembles Brendan Perry’s a little), while it’s dancing-feet time as Black Belt’s bilious bent offers the classic line, “Etch-a-Sketch your way out of that one, reject”. GMF sounds as gentle as The Eagles but hides a barbed commentary thus: “you think I hate myself, but it’s you I hate” and uneasy electronica, coupled with Sinead O’Connor on backing vocals, provides a haunting veneer to Why Don’t You Love Me Anymore?

Whilst it would be all too easy to judge the songwriter as an anti-social and rather testy outcast (and you’d probably be right – who can blame him? Being HIV positive ain’t gonna inspire you to trill about swooping swallows and windy walks), John Grant’s latent strength lies in his music, as well as his poetics. Atmospheric, organic and whatever other ‘ic’ you choose to level at it, Pale Green Ghosts is an engaging journey into the mind of a man who has clearly been bitten hard in the balls by those he’s trusted in the past. Life hasn’t been too straight with Grant, irony not intended.

Highlights are many but I’ll give I Hate This Town the accolade of sweary pop-song of the year – aside from GMF of course. Superb stuff.