More than two years on from 2013's Pale Green Ghosts, former Czars frontman John Grant is back with another solo album. Called Grey Tickles, Black Pressure, the record drops on October 2 through Bella Union.
Grant has been living in Iceland as of late, but this album was recorded in Dallas with producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Franz Ferdinand, Swans).
According to a press release, the album "further refines and entwines his two principal strands of musical DNA, the sumptuous tempered ballad and the taut, fizzing electronic pop song." Guests include Tracey Thorn, Amanda Palmer and Siouxsie and the Banshees drummer Budgie.
In a statement, Grant described the album as "moodier and angrier," and he had this to say about the title: "'Grey tickles' is the literal translation from Icelandic for 'mid-life crisis', while 'black pressure' is the direct translation from Turkish for 'nightmare.'"
The 14-track album includes an "Intro" and "Outro," both spoken world pieces that use a Bible verse. Scroll past the tracklist to watch a rather gory album trailer in which a blood-soaked Grant wields a mallet while we hear a soundtrack of lushly crooned orchestral pop.
Grey Tickles, Black Pressure:
1. Intro
2. Grey Tickles, Black Pressure
3. Snug Slacks
4. Guess How I Know
5. You & Him
6. Down Here
7. Voodoo Doll
8. Global Warming
9. Magma Arrives
10. Black Blizzard
11. Disappointing
12. No More Tangles
13. Geraldine
14. Outro
Tour dates:
11/05 Reykjavik, Iceland - Eldborg Harpa
11/06 Reykjavik, Iceland - Eldborg Harpa
11/09 Dublin, Ireland - Vicar Street
11/10 Dublin, Ireland - Vicar Street
11/12 London, UK - Hammersmith Apollo
11/13 Brighton, UK - Dome
11/15 Paris, France - La Cigale
11/17 Brussels, Belgium - Botanique
11/18 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg
11/20 Luxembourg, Luxuembour - Den Atelier
11/21 Zurich, Switzerland - Kaufleuten
11/22 Milan, Italy - Fabrique
11/24 Cologne, Germany - Buergerhaus Stollwerck
11/25 Hamburg, Germany - Uebel & Gefahrlich
11/26 Berlin, Germany - Postbahnof
11/28 Aarhus, Denmark - Voxhall
11/29 Copenhagen, Denmark - Store Vega
12/01 Gothenburg, Swedem - Pustervik
12/02 Stockholm, Sweden - Sodra Teatern
12/04 Oslo, Norway - Cosmopolite
12/05 Bergen, Norway - Logen
12/06 Stavanger, Norway - Zetlitz
Grant has been living in Iceland as of late, but this album was recorded in Dallas with producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Franz Ferdinand, Swans).
According to a press release, the album "further refines and entwines his two principal strands of musical DNA, the sumptuous tempered ballad and the taut, fizzing electronic pop song." Guests include Tracey Thorn, Amanda Palmer and Siouxsie and the Banshees drummer Budgie.
In a statement, Grant described the album as "moodier and angrier," and he had this to say about the title: "'Grey tickles' is the literal translation from Icelandic for 'mid-life crisis', while 'black pressure' is the direct translation from Turkish for 'nightmare.'"
The 14-track album includes an "Intro" and "Outro," both spoken world pieces that use a Bible verse. Scroll past the tracklist to watch a rather gory album trailer in which a blood-soaked Grant wields a mallet while we hear a soundtrack of lushly crooned orchestral pop.
Grey Tickles, Black Pressure:
1. Intro
2. Grey Tickles, Black Pressure
3. Snug Slacks
4. Guess How I Know
5. You & Him
6. Down Here
7. Voodoo Doll
8. Global Warming
9. Magma Arrives
10. Black Blizzard
11. Disappointing
12. No More Tangles
13. Geraldine
14. Outro
Tour dates:
11/05 Reykjavik, Iceland - Eldborg Harpa
11/06 Reykjavik, Iceland - Eldborg Harpa
11/09 Dublin, Ireland - Vicar Street
11/10 Dublin, Ireland - Vicar Street
11/12 London, UK - Hammersmith Apollo
11/13 Brighton, UK - Dome
11/15 Paris, France - La Cigale
11/17 Brussels, Belgium - Botanique
11/18 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg
11/20 Luxembourg, Luxuembour - Den Atelier
11/21 Zurich, Switzerland - Kaufleuten
11/22 Milan, Italy - Fabrique
11/24 Cologne, Germany - Buergerhaus Stollwerck
11/25 Hamburg, Germany - Uebel & Gefahrlich
11/26 Berlin, Germany - Postbahnof
11/28 Aarhus, Denmark - Voxhall
11/29 Copenhagen, Denmark - Store Vega
12/01 Gothenburg, Swedem - Pustervik
12/02 Stockholm, Sweden - Sodra Teatern
12/04 Oslo, Norway - Cosmopolite
12/05 Bergen, Norway - Logen
12/06 Stavanger, Norway - Zetlitz
