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Grand National A Drink And A Quick Decision |
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Reviews Rock and Indie
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Friday, 07 March 2008 |
 Grand National
‘A Drink & A Quick Decision’
(Sunday Best Recordings)
Released: 03/03/08
**
The release of Grand National’s debut album ‘Kicking The National Habit’ was a few years back now during the midst of a growing indie rock/ post punk revival which included the introduction of bands to the music scene like The Arctic Monkeys and Bloc Party. This explosion put something of a dampener on Grand National’s new pulse of new wave and psychedelic soul, a sound developed and adopted by many an artist during the 80‘s and a huge influence on Rupert Lyddon and Lawrence Rudd who’s love of electronic sound manipulation and experimentation developed into a quite unique sound.
‘A Drink & A Quick Decision’ although influenced by the music of bands like Joy Division and New Order falls some what short of the latter’s individual blend of post-punk and electronic dance, New Order’s experimentation into post-disco, Latin freestyle and other associated genres is lost on Grand National as tracks seem to lack any variation.
As opener ‘Reason To Hide In’ roles in to ‘Weird Ideas At Work’, replicating what appears to be a beat stolen from a Human League a-side, it’s an intermittent flash of electric guitar and a clash of the odd drum rim that wakes you from the realisation that you’re not being subjected to a unfortunate episode with a Dance Nation compilation. ’Animal Sounds’ and ’New Space’ jump in offering a poppier sound, whilst ’By The Time I Get Home…..’ ups the tempo with a percussive accompaniment which sounds like the sort of thing New Order might have picked up from their 1981 trip to a dance happy New York.
If Grand National had played The Hacienda nightclub in the days after Joy Division ruled the roost they would probably be lucky to make it through the door, let alone be in contention for a head line slot.
www.grand-national.net
Review By : Matt Clutton
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