Justin Grounds - Love Is Strong As Death (Album)
To be completely honest with you, I wanted to review Justin Ground’s album Love Is Strong As Death because I was hoping it would have a cover of Love is stronger than death, by The The. I have had an unhealthy love of The The since I first heard them (or him, as it is essentially a Matt Johnson solo project) on Rage late one night when I was attempting a final stagger up the stairs to bed. I know that this is not the best reason to want to review something, but what can I say? It would be like trying to pass up a CD entitled Time after Time, when you know in your heart of hearts you want an excuse to hear a cover of the Cyndi Lauper classic. I once heard a New Age version of that tune, including dolphin noises, and I still couldn’t help but sing along to it. Although don’t tell anyone about that.
So I stabbed the CD into the player and low and behold, my ears are presented with the exact same melodic drone that introduces the The The track. My ears perked up, I was excited. If that is a coincidence then I am willing to sell all my Cyndi Lauper records, because, for me it is too similar to be by chance. If it isn’t a coincidence, I salute the man for the subtle salute to The The. And a salute to me for picking it up because I have always wanted to be one of the music fans that picks up the little references in music- those little nods between musician and listener. Just like my mate who understands the real reason that You Am I’s ‘#4 Record’ was called ‘#4 Record’.
Once I got past this initial excitement I was presented with an album of understated class. It really is a great listen. His voice is rich and melodic, and the compositions themselves are brilliant. Off-kilter, almost syncopated guitar lines, lend a Go-Betweens style air to proceedings that is stunningly effective. I suspect there may be some bizarre key signatures in there, 7/4 etc, although that is just a punt. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were, as he appears to be some sort of über-musician. On this album he plays no less than, violin, electric, acoustic, 12-string, and bass guitars, banjo, piano, organ, clarinet, drums, percussion, cello, wine glasses, granular synthesiser, and did all the vocals and production. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is one of those people with a brain the size of Phar Lap’s heart that throbs and glows with the simultaneous excitation of a billion synapses as he thinks. Being an Australian, well versed in Tall Poppy Syndrome, I should probably hate him. Damn over achiever. He probably has a hot girlfriend he met while chairing a Mensa meeting too. But good luck to him, I say.
The only gripe I do have with this recording is that he does come across as an extremely serious gent. Maybe it’s his English heritage, or maybe he is doing a literature degree, either way the man sounds like an ulcer waiting to happen. But I suppose, overt seriousness never did Pink Floyd any harm.
In the Bruce Springsteen ‘Nebraska’ style this album is a grower, and a stunner, and I recommend it highly.
