Grian Chatten – Chaos for the Fly – Album Review
by Killian Laher

“Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.”– Charles Addams

Grian Chatten has put out a solo album with what might seem like undue haste, only 4 years after Dogrel.  It’s clear from the outset this is a bit like a stripped-down Fontaines (unplugged anyone?)  The Score opens with picked guitars and a breathy, sullen vocal from Chatten.  Last Time Every Time Forever features what sounds like a string section and a lovely backing vocal from Georgie Jesson.  Fairlies is the most uptempo thing here with a catchy chorus, it’s the one track here you could imagine his band playing, and the only time Grian Chatten really lets loose on vocals.

On the other end of the spectrum, Bob’s Casino has summery brass and strings and is one hell of a departure for Chatten.  He is again joined by Jesson on vocals and if there’s any justice, this will be blasting out of every daytime radio all summer long.  More like this would have made for a very upbeat album.  However, the piano-lead All Of The People aims for the same territory as the most recent album by The National, all meaningful piano and moody melodies.

Classic rock influences come to the fore later on in the album, East Coast Bed has a Primal Scream-channeling chorus, while I Am So Far’s harmonica will have you thinking of Neil Young’s Harvest.  The final track Season For Pain is almost ‘mature’ sounding, another moody ballad but a bloody fine one, building gradually as Chatten fatalistically croons “This is no season for loving, this is the season for pain”.

The album feels short at nine tracks in just over 36 minutes, but if you’re after a chilled-out, summery album that’s not too far off the Fontaines D.C., Grian Chatten has the album for you.

The Score