Grand Salvo – Slay Me In My Sleep
This is a pretty affair, there’s no two ways about it. Paddy Mann is Grand Salvo and Grand Salvo is Paddy Mann. They’ve been one and the same for over ten years now and despite a press release that insists that Grand Salvo have received critical acclaim, you’d have to say that the man’s flown under the radar. I can only deduce that this is a cross-media demonstration of solidarity wherein all music writer types have remained quiet on the movements of Mister Mann. It’s like that time Cuba made everyone angry so all the other countries were all like “no one hang with Cuba, they are being crazy annoying” so Cuba got super bored and just made sweet Latin grooves for a few years and but no one cared until the decided that Cuba was alright again and now Buena Vista Social Club are all that. In that analogy Cuba represents Grand Salvo and I represent whichever champion* shattered the embargo because I’m going public on this thing and there’s not a damn thing the UN can do about it. My self-aggrandising behaviour is reaching new peaks but let’s look at it as the necessary evil in the process of Grand Salvo delivery.
The new record is far more rich and textured than earlier releases with percussion, harp, recorder and cello present at different points (and sometimes at the same point!!). The song you’re hearing isn’t actually my first choice from the record but it’s the only single publicly available at this point and it’s no less heartfelt and romantic. I’m not sure if I like much of the contemporary folk that deals with youth and the movement of time. Actually I’m sure, I don’t like it. This isn’t the debut record from an artist suddenly invested in indie-folk though, this is the sixth record from a tested and true Australian folk staple. It’s lyrically mature and the arrangements are punctuated with a weaver’s subtlety. Slay Me In My Sleep may be be far fuller than the lighter acoustic fair Grand Salvo have previously released (see Needles) but it’s still a delicate, unaffected Aussie beauty.
*nope
Artists you need to know rn
| 1. 1300 |  |
316 |
| 2. Voidhood | |
259 | 3. jamesjamesjames | |
186 | 4. Zan | |
174 |
| 5. Sesame Girl | |
147 |
[...] way onto my tongue every now and then. What else am I missing in here? Oh oh, records from Grand Salvo and Francolin were both mighty fine this year and deserved a showing but if I’ve learned [...]