GRAPPLING

On Grappling, The Tea Club embrace their increasingly prog direction by kicking off in a decidedly Genesis-influenced vein, with Patrick McGowan's vocals more reminiscent of Peter Gabriel's than ever and the band likewise working in aspects of the classic Genesis compositional approach and sound here and there. As the album progresses, the shadow of Genesis lifts, so I would encourage listeners to pay attention all the way through before jumping to conclusions - The Tea Club haven't become a clone band, but they do seem to be paying a little tribute to one of their influences along the way here, but not so much as to derail them from their own distinct course.