Those familiar with the experimental jazz/rock scene may have heard about the early October release, “The New Sound” by Geordie Greep.
Greep, most known for his time in the group Black Midi, has since split off and begun a solo career. The result so far has been interesting to say the least.
The album throws listeners for a loop with its unique time signatures, intricate bass lines and top-of-the-line samples. Greep’s vocal style also compliments the pacing of the music. Despite being a solo project, he utilizes instruments, such as a trumpet and a saxophone, in conjunction with electric guitar and piano among the other usual rock instruments.
“The New Sound” is spearheaded by lead single “Holy, Holy,” a song that tells the story of a toxic masculinity through a man who relies on validation from others. The track begins with the man telling a woman how much she needs him, only to end with him revealing his insecurities and begging for the right kind of attention.
Overall, the album has a very organic feel to the combination of genres and cultures. If I were to attempt to narrow down influential artists, my mind would gravitate towards Frank Zappa, Steely Dan and King Crimson. The reality is, I believe Greep’s art is a true expression of himself, and while all art takes inspiration from somewhere, “The New Sound” is something that I don’t think has ever been done before.
The first half of the album includes more emphasis on the vocals and storytelling, while the latter half relies heavily on the instrumentation. To me, this accurately represents how a listener would respond to listening to the album. One may have a lot to say at the beginning, until they sit and listen to the rest and are left with nothing but their thoughts (and good music).
In an interview with writer Eden Tizard , Greep described getting ideas for the characters in his songs from going out to clubs and drinking. His thought process was so intriguing, I’m actually going to include an attributed quote, despite this being a column.
“Every club you go to there’s guys like that, and there’s always one point [where they try to present the idea]: ‘I’m the man, I’m a G.’” Greep said. “I feel like it’s worth dedicating a whole album to those guys and those stories.”
The subjects and themes discussed by the lyrics in this album are more than ever prevalent given the circumstances of today’s society. The track “Blues” details a character who struggles with self-image, and tries to present themselves as rich, courageous and heroic. Similarly to “Holy, Holy,” this is then contrasted with a realization that this character is not as strong as they believe, that they are in fact, mortal and that they’ll soon disappear. I think a lot of people in today’s world, specifically those who live under 24/7 surveillance by the media, put on a persona to the rest of the world. Greep explores this idea in a glorious fashion.
So after a number of listens and a 500-word written review, I’d have to give this album an 8/10. I’m very fond of Greep’s experimentation, as well as his decision to cover sensitive themes and use rather explicit lyrics, which I’ve intentionally excluded. The truth is, this is definitely an album you need to hear for yourself.