View basket “The Blues Is Calling” has been added to your basket. Grey Tickles, Black Pressure John Grant SKU: BELLA505V Barcode: 5414939926723 19.00 £19.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union Released Date: 6th October 2015 Buying Format: 2LP Coloured Vinyl Gatefold Sleeve Includes Download Code Out of stock Back Order Add to your Wishlist Description Product Info It’s been the most spectacular of journeys, from a place in time when John Grant feared he’d never make music again, to winning awards, accolades and Top 20 chart positions, collaborating with the likes of Sinead O’Connor, Goldfrapp and Elton John, as well as a Best International Male Solo Artist nomination at the 2014 BRITS Awards. Now comes Grant’s third album, the invitingly titled Grey Tickles, Black Pressure, a veritable tour-de-force that further refines and entwines his two principal strands of musical DNA, the sumptuous tempered ballad and the taut, fizzing electronic pop song. There are newer musical accomplishments across its panoply of towering sound, like the title track’s new steely demeanour, while the ominous drama of “Black Blizzard” echoes both John Carpenter and Bernard ‘Black Devil Disco Club’ Fevre’s beautiful and icy synthscapes. The contagious, gleeful “You And Him” marries buzzing rock with a squelchy electronic undertow, while orchestral drama swathes the bad-dreamy “Global Warming” and the album’s gorgeously aching widescreen finale “Geraldine”. John has released a NSFW (or at least not for the squeamish!) album trailer featuring the title track which can be viewed HERE. Grey Tickles, Black Pressure was recorded in Dallas with producer John Congleton (St Vincent, Franz Ferdinand, Swans) – coincidentally the same state of Texas where Grant nailed his 2010 solo debut Queen Of Denmark in the company of Denton’s wondrous Midlake. After that landmark return, which MOJO made its album of 2010, 2013’s Pale Green Ghosts was made in Icelandic capital Reykjavik (where Grant has lived ever since), which entered the UK Top 20 in its first week and ended up as Rough Trade Shop’s Album of the Year 2013, The Guardian’s No.2 and in MOJO and Uncut’s Top Five). Such recognition, iced by years of sell-out shows across Europe and a recent US tour as special invited guest of the Pixies, should allow the notoriously self-critical and insecure Grant the passing thought that Grey Tickles, Black Pressure will deservedly cement his reputation as the most disarmingly honest, caustic, profound and funny diarist of the human condition in the persistently testing, even tragic, era that is the 21st century. “I do think the album’s great, and I’m really proud of it,” he says. “I wanted to get moodier and angrier on this record, but I probably had a lot more fun making it.” He cites “amazing” session keyboardist Bobby Sparks, “who really funked things up,” as part of that fun; likewise a month of Dallas sunshine “after a brutal dark winter in Iceland. And there was a lot of laughter.” That said, fun isn’t the first ingredient you’d expect when you know the roots of the album title. “‘Grey tickles’ is the literal translation from Icelandic for ‘mid-life crisis’, while ‘black pressure’ is the direct translation from Turkish for ‘nightmare’,” Grant explains, an unusually gifted linguist (he’s fluent in German, Russian and now tackling Icelandic). Nevertheless, there are plenty of positive streaks in Grey Tickles, Black Pressure. Grant, for one, is in fabulous voice throughout and has moved on from the specific subject matter that shaped both previous albums (though the concept of love always figures into the mix). “Disappointing” – featuring vocal guest Tracey Thorne – is an exuberant tribute to new love, against which Grant’s favourite Saturday Night Live comediennes, Russian artists and “ballet dancers with or without tights” pale in comparison. The album’s other two guests are vocalist Amanda Palmer and former Banshees drummer Budgie. But the end result is indeed a moody, angry record, laced with levering humour and wounded pathos, yet as dark as Reykjavik in February. It starts and ends with spoken word snippets called, simply, “Intro” and “Outro”, both taken from the same Biblical quote (from 1 Corinthians 13) regarding the divinity of love that young John was taught in church. In between are 12 songs that document the reality of love on planet Earth, corrupted by “pain, misunderstandings, jealousy, objectification and expectations,” as Grant puts it. The album’s last two songs are among its finest. “No More Tangles” fights against co-dependency “with narcissistic queers,” he sings, through the metaphor of hair care products. “It’s about not apologizing for who you are and not putting up with unnecessary bullshit from people who do not care about you”. But in “Geraldine” (as in the late Geraldine Paige, “one of freakiest, strongest, coolest actresses I’ve come across”), Grant’s latest actor-inspired song is Grant’s chance to ask her if she too had to “put up with this shit” that life dishes out. So Grant still manages to keep fighting the good fight, and writing his way out of trouble with another fantastic record. “I want to continue to challenge myself,” he says. “To keep collaborating, to get the sound or the direction that will take me where I need to go. To keep taking the bull by the horns.” Artist John Grant Genre Rock And Pop Label Bella Union Buying Options 2LP Coloured Vinyl Gatefold Sleeve Includes Download Code Format 2LP , Coloured Vinyl , Gatefold Sleeve , Includes Download Code Condition New Country United Kingdom Track Listings 1. Intro 2. Grey Tickles, Black Pressure 3. Snug Slacks 4. Guess How I Know 5. You & Him 6. Down Here 7. Voodoo Doll 8. Global Warming 9. Magma Arrives 10. Black Blizzard 11. Disappointing 12. No More Tangles 13. Geraldine 14. Outro Share this On Facebook On Twitter Via Email More from John Grant View Product Quick View John Grant The Art Of The Lie Rock And Pop | Bella Union | 2LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 14th June 2024 £26.00 - £28.00 Select options John Grant The Art Of The Lie £26.00 - £28.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union Formats: 2LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 14th June 2024 Read More Select options Graham's picks View Product Quick View John Grant Boy From Michigan Rock And Pop | Bella Union | 2LP, Box Set, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released 25th June 2021 £22.00 - £100.00 Select options John Grant Boy From Michigan £22.00 - £100.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union Formats: 2LP, Box Set, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released Date: 25th June 2021 Read More Select options View Product Quick View John Grant Queen Of Denmark Rock And Pop | Bella Union | 2LP Released 19th April 2010 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Grant Queen Of Denmark £22.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union SKU: BELLAV235 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 19th April 2010 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View John Grant Love Is Magic Rock And Pop | Bella Union | 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released 9th October 2018 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Grant Love Is Magic £22.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union SKU: BELLA825V Formats: 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released Date: 9th October 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View John Grant Love Is Magic (deluxe) Rock And Pop | Bella Union | 2LP, Includes Booklet Released 9th October 2018 £31.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Grant Love Is Magic (deluxe) £31.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union SKU: BELLA825VX Formats: 2LP, Includes Booklet Released Date: 9th October 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View John Grant Pale Green Ghosts Rock And Pop | Bella Union | 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes CD Released 11th March 2013 £21.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Grant Pale Green Ghosts £21.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union SKU: BELLAV377 Formats: 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes CD Released Date: 11th March 2013 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders See more from John Grant Start again More from Rock And Pop View Product Quick View Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band Magneticism II – The Very Best of Captain Beefheart & his Magic Bands Rock And Pop | Viper | 1LP Released 27th September 2019 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band Magneticism II – The Very Best of Captain Beefheart & his Magic Bands £19.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Viper SKU: VIPERLP135 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 27th September 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Disclosure Energy Rock And Pop | Island | 2LP, Coloured Vinyl, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released 28th August 2020 £24.00 Select options Disclosure Energy £24.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Island Formats: 2LP, Coloured Vinyl, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released Date: 28th August 2020 Read More Select options View Product Quick View Lloyd Cole On Pain Rock And Pop | Earmusic | 1LP Released 23rd June 2023 £24.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Lloyd Cole On Pain £24.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Earmusic SKU: 0218643EMU Formats: 1LP Released Date: 23rd June 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Coasts Coasts (Deluxe Edition) Alternative Rock / Punk Rock / Emo | Warner Bros | 180g, 2LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 22nd January 2016 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Coasts Coasts (Deluxe Edition) £19.00 Genre: Alternative Rock / Punk Rock / Emo Label: Warner Bros SKU: 825646082094 Formats: 180g, 2LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 22nd January 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Arborist A Northern View Rock And Pop | Rollercoaster | 1LP Released 7th February 2020 £15.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Arborist A Northern View £15.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Rollercoaster SKU: RCR007LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 7th February 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Pink Floyd The Division Bell Progressive | Pink Floyd Records | 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released 24th August 2016 £27.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Pink Floyd The Division Bell £27.00 Genre: Progressive Label: Pink Floyd Records SKU: 0825646293285 Formats: 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 24th August 2016 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View JP Cooper Raised Under Grey Skies Rock And Pop | Island | 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released 6th October 2017 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders JP Cooper Raised Under Grey Skies £20.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Island SKU: 5775789 Formats: 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released Date: 6th October 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Foreigner Foreigner Rock And Pop | Rhino Focus | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 6th October 2023 £28.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Foreigner Foreigner £28.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Rhino Focus SKU: 0603497837021 Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 6th October 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Velvet Underground, The Live At Max’s Kansas City Rock And Pop | Rhino Atlantic | 2LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 5th January 2024 £39.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Velvet Underground, The Live At Max’s Kansas City £39.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Rhino Atlantic SKU: 0603497828579 Formats: 2LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 5th January 2024 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Franz Nicolay New River Rock And Pop | Don Giovanni | 1LP Released 11th November 2022 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Franz Nicolay New River £23.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Don Giovanni SKU: LPDG263 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 11th November 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders See more in Rock And Pop Start again
View Product Quick View John Grant The Art Of The Lie Rock And Pop | Bella Union | 2LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 14th June 2024 £26.00 - £28.00 Select options John Grant The Art Of The Lie £26.00 - £28.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union Formats: 2LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 14th June 2024 Read More Select options
Graham's picks View Product Quick View John Grant Boy From Michigan Rock And Pop | Bella Union | 2LP, Box Set, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released 25th June 2021 £22.00 - £100.00 Select options John Grant Boy From Michigan £22.00 - £100.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union Formats: 2LP, Box Set, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released Date: 25th June 2021 Read More Select options
View Product Quick View John Grant Queen Of Denmark Rock And Pop | Bella Union | 2LP Released 19th April 2010 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Grant Queen Of Denmark £22.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union SKU: BELLAV235 Formats: 2LP Released Date: 19th April 2010 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View John Grant Love Is Magic Rock And Pop | Bella Union | 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released 9th October 2018 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Grant Love Is Magic £22.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union SKU: BELLA825V Formats: 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released Date: 9th October 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View John Grant Love Is Magic (deluxe) Rock And Pop | Bella Union | 2LP, Includes Booklet Released 9th October 2018 £31.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Grant Love Is Magic (deluxe) £31.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union SKU: BELLA825VX Formats: 2LP, Includes Booklet Released Date: 9th October 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View John Grant Pale Green Ghosts Rock And Pop | Bella Union | 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes CD Released 11th March 2013 £21.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Grant Pale Green Ghosts £21.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Bella Union SKU: BELLAV377 Formats: 2LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes CD Released Date: 11th March 2013 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band Magneticism II – The Very Best of Captain Beefheart & his Magic Bands Rock And Pop | Viper | 1LP Released 27th September 2019 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band Magneticism II – The Very Best of Captain Beefheart & his Magic Bands £19.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Viper SKU: VIPERLP135 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 27th September 2019 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Disclosure Energy Rock And Pop | Island | 2LP, Coloured Vinyl, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released 28th August 2020 £24.00 Select options Disclosure Energy £24.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Island Formats: 2LP, Coloured Vinyl, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released Date: 28th August 2020 Read More Select options
View Product Quick View Lloyd Cole On Pain Rock And Pop | Earmusic | 1LP Released 23rd June 2023 £24.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Lloyd Cole On Pain £24.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Earmusic SKU: 0218643EMU Formats: 1LP Released Date: 23rd June 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Coasts Coasts (Deluxe Edition) Alternative Rock / Punk Rock / Emo | Warner Bros | 180g, 2LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 22nd January 2016 £19.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Coasts Coasts (Deluxe Edition) £19.00 Genre: Alternative Rock / Punk Rock / Emo Label: Warner Bros SKU: 825646082094 Formats: 180g, 2LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 22nd January 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Arborist A Northern View Rock And Pop | Rollercoaster | 1LP Released 7th February 2020 £15.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Arborist A Northern View £15.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Rollercoaster SKU: RCR007LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 7th February 2020 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Pink Floyd The Division Bell Progressive | Pink Floyd Records | 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released 24th August 2016 £27.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Pink Floyd The Division Bell £27.00 Genre: Progressive Label: Pink Floyd Records SKU: 0825646293285 Formats: 180g, 2LP, Includes Download Code Released Date: 24th August 2016 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View JP Cooper Raised Under Grey Skies Rock And Pop | Island | 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released 6th October 2017 £20.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders JP Cooper Raised Under Grey Skies £20.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Island SKU: 5775789 Formats: 1LP, Gatefold Sleeve, Includes Download Code Released Date: 6th October 2017 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Foreigner Foreigner Rock And Pop | Rhino Focus | 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 6th October 2023 £28.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Foreigner Foreigner £28.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Rhino Focus SKU: 0603497837021 Formats: 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 6th October 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Velvet Underground, The Live At Max’s Kansas City Rock And Pop | Rhino Atlantic | 2LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 5th January 2024 £39.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Velvet Underground, The Live At Max’s Kansas City £39.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Rhino Atlantic SKU: 0603497828579 Formats: 2LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 5th January 2024 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Franz Nicolay New River Rock And Pop | Don Giovanni | 1LP Released 11th November 2022 £23.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Franz Nicolay New River £23.00 Genre: Rock And Pop Label: Don Giovanni SKU: LPDG263 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 11th November 2022 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders