Tír Na HiFi

I think this is out Friday.Have a listen to this track on Bellaunion.com.If you haven't heard this man sing,your in for a treat.

‘I Wanna Go To Marz’ is the first single to be taken from ‘Queen Of Denmark’ - the debut solo album from JOHN GRANT. A wonderful piano led jam, which illustrates the song-writing capabilities and lyrical craft of the ex-Czars frontman.

As a little taster we are offering ‘I Wanna Go To Marz’ as a FREE DOWNLOAD. Please spread the word…

JOHN GRANT, former singer/songwriter with Bella Union cult favorites THE CZARS, finally returns in April 2010 with an extraordinary debut solo album made with MIDLAKE.


Everyone has a favorite band or singer they reckon is subject to criminal neglect. That John Grant’s effortlessly rich, expansive baritone, couched in typically heartbreaking, lush melody, hasn’t found a wider audience many would consider a crime. But no longer. Because Grant’s first solo album is so undeniably great that the world will surely listen.


It’s a record of 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 and atonement after years of alcohol and cocaine dependency. 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 ‘70s-style soft-rock know-how. Put simply, “Queen Of Denmark” is the record Grant’s been waiting his whole life to make.


Not that the Czars didn’t hit their own heights. After emerging from Denver, Colorado, rave reviews were the norm… “Long distinguished by John Grant’s superlative baritone, ‘Goodbye’ reeks of wistful, melancholic class… as meticulous and complete-sounding as the best works by Mercury Rev or The Flaming Lips” said Uncut about The Czars’ final album.

The album moves through simple piano settings via an infusion of period-perfect synths that epitomise the lonely mood. There’s flute from Midlake frontman Tim Smith on the dreamiest cut ‘I Wanna Go To Marz’ and velvet strings on ‘ Where Dreams Go To Die’, which imagines Scott Walker influenced by Patsy Cline. There is pure longing in the opening ‘TC And Honeybear’ and bitterly sarcastic anger in the magnificent title track finale… Pain, hope, fear, regret and self-discovery… “Queen of Denmark” has it all… framed within some of the finest songs.

Just after seeing this now!?! Thanks for the tip :-))) BTW what do you think of Midlakes 'new' English Folk influenced album?

Hi Cybot,
While I was a little underwhelmed on the first couple of listens of the Midlake New album it has grown on me over the couple of months.It's a lovely sounding album with a lot of great moments.I just wish it had a bit more pace in the tracks every now and again...Maybe a little too polite.
Then again if you're a Fairport Convention fan you'll love this.

I think with this John Grant album I might find that extra bit of magic and there's many things I could call John Grant, polite would not be one of them.

jadarin wrote:Hi Cybot,
While I was a little underwhelmed on the first couple of listens of the Midlake New album it has grown on me over the couple of months.It's a lovely sounding album with a lot of great moments.I just wish it had a bit more pace in the tracks every now and again...Maybe a little too polite.
Then again if you're a Fairport Convention fan you'll love this.

I think with this John Grant album I might find that extra bit of magic and there's many things I could call John Grant, polite would not be one of them.

I know exactly what you mean jad but when you listen to the kind of 'ambient' sh#t that I listen to then it's definitely not a problem :-)))It's as if they wanted to set a mood and leave it in first (cosmic) gear, maaan.... Still, I love the vocals.

It's on double vinyl too :-)))

http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=294761

limited edition eP with 4 extra tracks I think.

I know this is true of the cd version.The albums around 50 mins and works as two parts so I hope this ep is included

in the vinyl version.

jadarin wrote:limited edition eP with 4 extra tracks I think.

I know this is true of the cd version.The albums around 50 mins and works as two parts so I hope this ep is included

in the vinyl version.

It's on the latest Tower Vinyl list for €19.99; this means,of course, that it's on the shelves NOW...

I've had this in the cd player for most of the weekend i just couldn't stop pressing play again and again as this is simply

stunning.There won't be many better albums than this all year if any?.

Great production.Sound is top class.

John Grant most definitely has got the very best from Midlake as they sound amazing.

This album will be top of the list or there abouts in every magazine's best of the year.

Take a chance on this you won't be disappointed.

I took a chance on this one too considering some of the reviews that it has been getting. I wasn't disappointed either and quite enjoyed it, particulary the superb vocals. Not normally the sort of music that I'd buy but always nice to discover something new or different.

Dave,
Glad to hear you enjoyed the album.