THE GREY OF GRANITE STONE

1928/5000 The London-based art-rock musician, singer / songwriter and producer Grice Peters established his reputation in 2013 with the alt-pop album Propeller. Alexandrine followed in 2015. His urge for dramatic and emotive singing and passion for manipulating both analog and digital sounds creates a challenging cocktail of post-pop songs mixed with modernistic art-rock electronica vibes, expertly supported by passionate vocals that create a unique "musique concr'te".

Grice constructs art-rock songs that breathe introspection. By combining his chanson singer-openness and the feathered strength and vulnerability of his distinctive and resonating voice with a wide range of acoustic and electronic ingredients, he has been rewarded with acclaim in art-pop and progressive rock circles. This offers him the opportunity to cooperate under his conditions with, among others, B.J. Cole, Steven Jansen and Richard Barbieri, who contribute to the song Cry on The Gray Of Granite Stone.

It is not surprising that despite the small contribution from Jansen and Barbieri, Grice's music will be appreciated by lovers of Japan and others. Certainly the closing piece Glass S'ance, played on a glass harmonica, is reminiscent of a combination of Voices Raised In Welcome, Hands Hero In Prayer and Temple Of Dawn by Japan's Oil On Canvas. Opener Change My World seems to be developing as a singer / songwriter song, complete with Steve Hogarth's similar vocals.

In terms of acoustic instruments, Spirit Level is a bit like Crowded House, while Miss Your Love is strongly reminiscent of a modern version of a Cosby, Still & Nash song. But in all those songs the twist is always in the soundscapes in the background and the sweet-voiced vocals of Grice. It makes The Gray Of Granite Stone a surprising and sensational EP by a very talented artist.