Grammatics - Double Negative

Non-album singles are often ventures by bands into entirely new areas. They’re not meant to ‘fit’ on a certain album, instead bridging the gap between one record and the next. Grammatics have been one of the bands to look out for this year. The band’s self-titled debut has managed to keep every ounce of its power, sounding as fresh as ever even now, seven months on from its release. However, the band aren’t exactly known for resting on their laurels, and ‘Double Negative’ was recorded over the summer (the original line-up of the band still intact, we’ll assume - Dominic Ord left the band in August), James Kenosha once again on production duties, and once again doing a fantastic job.

Rory O’Hara’s bass and Ord’s eyebrow-raising drumming drive ‘Double Negative’, a song which, while still sounding quite like the band we have come to know, hints at the band moving in a more streamlined direction. That’s not to say they’re sticking to a formulaic song structure, though.

Frontman Owen Brinley’s lyrics are as eloquent as ever ‘I’ve no lucid conversation now my every thought bears an abstraction,’ among them), and cellist Emilia Ergin turns in a rather striking performance, keeping things just the right side of dramatic. There’s even some yelping from Brinley during the bridge, something that will remind older fans of his days in Colour Of Fire.

Highlighting the vital importance of the rhythm section, ‘Double Negative’ is definitely a step forward for Grammatics. The next one, though, will be very important indeed: there are so many directions they could go in, after all.