ALBUM REVIEW: To Dust – From Grey

Folk music can often be overlooked but it has been going through something of a renaissance in recent years. French indie-folk band FROM GREY have been performing since 2011, initially under the name RONAN K, after their lead singer Ronan Kéromnès, with the trio completed by Stéven Rougerie and Nicolas Delaqueze. They released their debut album in 2018 and now they follow it up with To Dust, a record in which the harmonica and banjo play a major role, as well as themes of nostalgia, hope and madness.

This is evident from the opening track Soldier, a gentle, guitar-driven song that picks up the pace as it plays out. It sets the tone for the rest of the ten songs on the album, many of which are fast-paced numbers that will have you nodding your head along to the beat. For example, Pictures Of You is a country-esque song that mixes the electronic guitar, the banjo and the harmonica in a fun mix that works well even if it shouldn’t on paper.

Not all the songs are fast either. For example, the first part of the title track is a slow-paced acoustic guitar driven track that slowly builds to the second part, which is a short musical interlude. Whilst some of the songs on the latter half of the album – such as the acoustic This Life Is Not For Me – do unfortunately slow down the album’s pacing, To Dust works well when listened to as a whole. The band’s take on indie-folk music covers a little bit of everything, from rock to country; they strip it back and make it their own and it is this unique sound that will please fans old and new because it is accessible and easy to listen to, but also one-of-a-kind.

Overall, whilst it isn’t perfect, To Dust is an interesting album. It has something for anyone who is a fan of country, folk or indie music, and FROM GREY have carved out their own little niche for themselves. Although some of the lyrics can get repetitive, and the pacing is a bit all over the place, the production of the album – as well as its sound – rectifies this. The title track being a two-parter is unique, and also helps divide the album into two parts, and ultimately if you are just looking for a good indie-folk album to listen to, then To Dust will leave you satisfied.

Rating: 8/10

To Dust is out now via self-release.

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