Great new review from Melbourne Street Press - INPRESS | Dec 9, 2010 | Category: General
Inpress (Melbourne Street Press)
From the haunting piano notes that open Common Seabirds, the first track from Grün's debut album, it's clear that this is a game changer. The fact that it evolves as a piece to create both peaceful ambience and bone-rattling resonance is a tribute to the group creating it. Greenland, a mostly instrumental release, tosses it's head through genres without taking a step back, whether through instrumental numbers, or in conjunction with the vocal contributions of singer Katy Wren McNamara.
Formed in Sydney in 2005 from the ashes of not-quite-big band Iliad, Grun are a four-piece who, despite their instrumental leanings, wear their musical influences on their sleeves. Think Radiohead, add some Michael Nyman, and throw in a dash of Tool, and the results, speak for themselves. Creativity, exploration and independence are three key ideas that thread their way through the intelligent layers of Greenland, reaching ear-busting crescendos in tracks like Angry Bees, before mellowing the fuck out straight away, with UFO Stole My Sea Lion.
On close listen – and, being an instrumental record, it takes one or two goes around the headphones before one can really engage with each song individually – there's a sense that each song accurately portrays its title. For instance, while listening to Among The Bad Apes, there truly is a feeling that despite the general darkness of the piece, there is undeniable light and positivity through the song, as the reverb-dripping guitar takes flight.
Greenland is a masterpiece. The well-spaces vocal tracks only add an extra dimension, preventing Grün from sounding stale and uninteresting.
DYLAN STUART