In the five solo albums since 2010’s debut Queen of Denmark, singer-songwriter John Grant has employed his storytelling baritone in a number of guises. From downtempo, guitar-strummed folk to programmed synths on 2015’s Grey Tickles, Black Pressure and the eerie electronic textures of 2021’s Boy from Michigan, a new Grant album typically heralds a sound few expect.
His sixth album, The Art of the Lie, follows suit. Supplanting folk for funk and cloaking his silky voice in layers of vocoder, these 11 tracks present a glorious new direction. Opener All That School for Nothing sets an infectiously grooving tone, pairing an earthy bass line with Grant’s synthesised voice, invoking P-funk master George Clinton. Album highlight It’s a Bitch continues the funk odyssey while Grant sardonically expounds on life’s trials.
Crawling electronic drum patterns mark out the sensuous Meek AF but other quieter moments work less effectively, with sparse ballad Daddy developing too slowly over its marching snare patterns. Still, this is a confidently playful, soulful record heralding an exciting new phase for Grant.
