John Grant doesn't always make things easy for his listeners on this third solo album. The American singer broke through in 2010 with , a moody record with orchestral pop songs. Grant could have developed this style easily, but opts for a more bumpy path. There are a number of songs on which his voice is supported by stuttering, distorted electronics. On the punky You And Him (a duet with ) Grant
… actually sounds just like at the time of his album . So many tastes on Gray Tickles, Black Pressure, because the melancholic orchestra pop returns in the title track and the beautiful resting point Global Warming. Also lyrically, Grant is not easy to be ignored. Some texts are cryptic, others are crystal clear. Grant regularly struggles with depression, but the humorous perspective and idiosyncratic musical interpretation ensure that Grant does not become too heavy on this album. (PdK)more
