ALBUM REVIEW: Grade A Gray Day – Giant Brain

14 years on from their previous release, GIANT BRAIN are releasing their third, and likely last, album, in memory of late guitarist Phil Durr, who sadly passed while visiting relatives in Germany. With a promise of experimental electro-prog, there’s an expectation of a lot, prior to the first listen through, whilst in reality the sound is very much one of a modern day HAWKWIND, though that is absolutely not a bad thing whatsoever. In truth, they come very close to the classic era of the mighty Hawks and the impressive nature of that feat is one they should be proud of.

The album has a clear concept at heart – an astronaut dying and reawakening in the body of a ‘terminator’, with its subsequent anger and wish for freedom representing the different phases – read songs – in a move that would leave it standing very well as the soundtrack for a short film about this specific subject.

In terms of quality, it genuinely has a lot permeating through the entirety of the record. Production values are spot on, with everything interwoven expertly, while the intricacies definitely remind you of the aforementioned space rock legends, with bass, guitar and synths each taking their turn to lead in earworming hooks. Everything just seems to fit, in terms of mood, ambience and nothing seeming out of place, despite the lengthy tracks, with only one coming in under six minutes. There is no feeling of any ideas or rhythms being dragged out too long or overplayed, which in this line of music is an extremely difficult one to tread, one that many other bands have tried but simply not been able to consistently hit.

There are elements of slide/roots blues rock in amongst the space rock goodness and an occasional hint of something post-punk – perhaps in the bass and drums – which both add that something extra into the mix without detracting anything from the overall feel. This goes to show just how well the album is actually created, and that this can be done without impairing the overall feeling or creating something else that could be jarring, if not done to this standard.

It’s actually a great shame about the passing of guitarist Durr, as this collaboration of artists, even standing solely as a studio entity, is one that deserves real recognition. Grade A Gray Day is a highly enjoyable piece and one that should sit proudly in the collection of anyone into their more ambient, progressive or space rock music, though with the slight pre-amble of it being a mainly instrumental piece. While this could detract from it for a few people, the sheer atmosphere and love you feel in the music, even when the mood is meant to be one of more fiery emotions, are just far too reminiscent of the joy to be found in those genres.

Rating: 8/10

Grade A Gray Day is out now via Small Stone Recordings / Kozmik Artifactz.

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