EP REVIEW: Proof of Concept – Gramma Vedetta
Having received positive critical and popular praise for their demo track Pirate Session and following singles, London grunge trio GRAMMA VEDETTA release their first EP, Proof of Concept. The band have been together for two years, their dynamic consists of various influences aside from grunge, often sighting various seventies bands as inspirations as well. The question is, do these influential traits blend into the music of GRAMMA VEDETTA themselves, or will it overwhelm their own contribution?
Behind the Blinds sets itself like a live track, connecting leads into jacks and allowing little moment pause before belting into the steady blues ride of cool guitars and basslines. The vocal performance is very intentionally live in its feel as well; there’s a roughness that fits perfectly into the punk sentiments of GRAMMA VEDETTA. While grounded in blues, with a little jazz inflection you’d get with some of FLEETWOOD MAC’s material. This is much more stripped back, and pushes into the heavier side of psychedelic blues-rock. So much is held back in the solo playing, the draw back into echoing guitars gives enough resistance to want more.
The Glitch feels a lot more QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE and MOTORHEAD combination in direction, while the vocals have an almost Ozzy Osbourne come Chris Cornell air to them. A booming drum and a constant riff line make for a lot of energy and sleazy swing to this track.
Once you’ve got your mouth around the tongue twister that is Taranto Train to Toronto Town, bend your ears to the punk pounding of hard drums and skitting guitars. Shouting is the main vocal delivery that carries you along here, though the delivery needs to be a little more aggressive to convey that true punk sentiment. The melody shifts between very western blues, to a punchy punk chord breakdown and then back to what is almost Indian stylings on guitar. While at first glance this should be thought of as punk it doesn’t stick to the intentionally simplistic ideals of punk at all, rather forges its own course and channels the feelings of this very emotive genre.
The Other Side takes a very BLACK SABBATH edge to its rhythm, with feeding back guitars, and menacing tone. There’s a mixture of SOUNDGARDEN and even some RAMONES in there, all under the blanket of grunge. Give one thing to GRAMMA VEDETTA, they know how to pick their influences and blend them into something unique. The only slight downside to all this mixing is that sometimes the intensity of what the band could achieve feels a little withheld, that the potential of each song it a little secondary to the homage that they want to convey. She (Has a Plan) goes all the way back to the seventies with a rise and fall of flanger effect on guitar over simple chords. As an opener it’s a little weak, but once the guitars are turned up and the drums are given something to do, there’s no question it’s going for a ROLLING STONE’s ballad vibe.
Address Unknown slows down to a bass driven desert rock again. It feels more original again after paying so much tribute to other bands throughout this album, and the pacing feels more comfortable. This is where GRAMMA VEDETTA should be focusing their efforts, where the influences are only just that, rather than dominants over the feel and tone. It’s moody, brooding and pretty well balanced, and you can feel a snarl in the playing as the confidence brews into a solid track. Oxygen is a cute acoustic number in the vein of PIXIES or even some stripped back FOO FIGHTERS, a real heart on the sleeve, open book of a song. The build-up into a little psychedelia is well done and fitting given that it’s a current GRAMMA VEDETTA have returned to invariably through the record, and generally it’s a warm and quiet end that rounds things off nicely.
Overall, Proof of Concept an admirable effort and demonstrates the capabilities of GRAMMA VEDETTA to create a great group of songs that nods its head heavily towards the bands the trio hold in reverence. The few stand out songs on this record, however, take a less heavy-handed approach to paying respect to other musicians and really let the core of this specific band shine. Clearly capable in their own right, it might be worth GRAMMA VEDETTA trying to take a step into a more concrete sound of their own.
Rating: 6/10
Proof of Concept is due for release on October 29th via self-release.
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