“One of my main influences now is the fact that I didn’t have someone to teach me proper jazz or rock playing … So I found my own style by experimenting with what works and what doesn’t”
– Michael Grubbs
Eight years on from début album ‘Silent As A Movie’ and four years on from ‘Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You’, Grubbs aka Wakey!Wakey! has just released the brand new album ‘Salvation’.
The album opens on first single from the album ‘All It Takes Is A Little Love’ – the punchy, feel-good love song firing out catchy hooks and a chorus ripped with gang vocals and enthusiasm. The perfect song to be showcased as the first single.
Follow up tracks ‘Through The Night’ and ‘Stop The World’ adopt the same vibe in their mood. ‘Stop The World’ is that little bit more mellow and stripped back, allowing intricacies in the instrumental side to shine through.
‘Nothing’s Cool’ manages to express a more singer/songwriter style in its structure and sound, while still keeping the pop elements which seem to be quite central to ‘Salvation’ in its entirety. The real easy going nature of the track breaks into a more quirky beat for the chorus each time just to relax back into an acoustic singer/songwriter affair.
Similarly, ‘Anhedonia’ holds up the same slow, settled sound of minimalist instrumentals and soft accompanying vocals using that as a bare platform.
Title track ‘Salvation’ definitely does fly the flag for the album, as expected. The track is essentially summed up with impressive production almost transitioning into synth samples for a dance-sounding Pop chorus and slighty more subtle verses. Leading into the closing more alternative ‘Homeland’, the album incorporates a variety of sounds and a diverse collection of Grubbs’ capabilities.
‘Savation’ should definitely be worth the considerable wait.
Check out our recent Playedbare Session with Michael Grubbs as he performed ‘Nothing’s Cool’ below:
Fortitude Magazine – WAKEY!WAKEY! – Nothing’s Cool // Playedbare Sessions on MUZU.TV.