Trying to pin down the music John Grant has been producing throughout his career so far, whether with The Czars or through his solo albums so far can be a very tricky affair.
The six albums by The Czars were brilliant in their own right, dominated by both Grant’s incredible vocals and songwriting, while his previous five solo albums started incorporating elements from all the musical genres Grant was (and is) inspired by, incorporating more and more electronic music elements, from ambient to disco.
On The Art of The Lie, his latest (sixth, or seventh if you include the live album with BBC Orchestra) he expands that palette even further, not sacrificing either his songwriting (musical or lyrical) or vocal capabilities.
Talking about the album at some point, Grant pinpoints some of the inspirational albums he wanted to reference here – Talk Talk’s The Colour of Spring, Kate Bush’s The Dreaming, Jane Siberry’s The Speckless Sky and works by Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance.
Yet With all those references, Grant still puts his quite audible individual stamp and rounds them in something not just personal, but quite musically and lyrically special.
Whatever the idea behind the album’s title, it is chockfull of art and no lies, except the ones Grant is talking about in his lyrics here. One of his best solo efforts so far.
