Album Review

My Grey Horse – I Still Don’t Understand

• 28th Jul 2014

My Grey Horse was a new name to me until recently, and I Still Don’t Understand is the band’s debut album. The best description I can give is melodic indie folk pop, as the Stratford Upon Avon based group doesn’t really fit easily into any defined musical category. But they do make appealing and entertaining music.

The band’s style is generally soft and tuneful, built around some great multi-part harmonies. Backed by acoustic guitar, piano and occasional banjo, the poetic lyrics are very much the focus of what is a pleasing sound. My Grey Horse have actually been around since back in 2009, formed by brothers Peter, John, and Oobah Butler, who are joined by friends Tom Mott and Joe Nicklin.

You’ll Never Learn, the closing track, is the best of the album. A slow piano led song, it opens with emotional lead vocals and a second, almost whispered, voice that sits alongside. It builds into a four part harmony before the instruments take over. At more than six minutes in length this one has the space to develop and does so quite beautifully.

The first single, Days Shall Follow is perhaps the folkiest sounding track on the album. It features a banjo and some gorgeous vocal harmonies and works well. About Time is slower, almost serene in its calm melody. Fortune also has a melancholy tranquillity with a piano melody that almost floats between the vocals.

There are touches of variation in some of the other tracks too. I Lived Here Once has a more prominent bass line that adds depth. All Those Mornings is upbeat with a nice guitar part and more percussion than most tracks. Big Night has a strident vocal style and a touch of synth that doesn’t really sit well with the vocals. We Need To Work It Out has a simple chorus, but perhaps becomes a little repetitive.

At times there is an almost psychedelic quality to the music, as the vocals float off into higher registers and the music meanders along underneath. It is gentle and summery sounding and has a simplicity that allows the lyrics to come through strongly. The sparse production suits the music well, giving a clarity of performance. I Still Don’t Understand is an interesting and enjoyable debut album with just enough variety to keep things fresh.

Venue: I Still Don’t Understand
Support Band: CRC Music