REVIEW: Queen Of Denmark By John Grant

(Bella Union)

3 out of 5

Having Midlake as your backing band is about as good as it gets for a solo artist struggling with inner demons and a need to express himself. John Grant, former singer/songwriter with the Czars, has emerged from a self-imposed exile to release Queen Of Denmark, a lush, ambitious opus that will satisfy fans of melancholy folk music. There’s a hint of Rufus Wainwright about the arrangements, orchestrations, themes and Grant’s own voice. He’s gay and intent on exploring what that means in his world and to his art. It certainly affords him the freedom to call one track ‘Jesus Hates Faggots’. After a promising start with ‘TC And Honeybear’, ‘Marz’ and ‘Where Dreams Go To Die’, the album falls a little flat with ‘Sigourney Weaver’, with its ridiculous lyrics and pedestrian arrangement. The quirky lyrical humour continues on ‘Chicken Bones’, which is where the album starts to wear thin. Grant is a talented songwriter but he’s trying to be too clever for his own good. Initially adventurous, the album descends into a sense of lyrical and musical pathos not even Midlake’s multi-instrumentalists can repair. Apparently Grant came to their attention when he played support for them after moving to New York City to study Russian medical interpreting. Mutual adoration ensued and Midlake took time out from recording third album The Courage Of Others to help their mate in the studio. Perhaps that’s why the album sounds like a bunch of talented friends mucking about with ideas, only occasionally hitting the mark. Grant is proud of his achievement, admitting the album states very clearly where he’s at and who he is. Songs like ‘It’s Easier’ and ‘Leopard And Lamb’ justify his pride. Just a shame a number of the other tracks fail to live up to his potential.

Review by Barney.