If You Wait (Deluxe Version)by London Grammar

"If you wait" is the debut offering from British Electronic pop trio, London Grammar. The trio, who formed back in 2012, began playing gigs in local bars and pubs but have since released 2 EP's and are steadily breaking into European and U.S. Music markets. Consisting of Hannah Reid on vocals, Dan Rothman on guitar and Dot Major on keys and percussion, London Grammar have a unique sound which fuses elements of pop together with ambient electronic. Hannah Reid's voice is one of the most unique I have heard in recent years in the pop genre - a blend of classically trained technicality and soulful sincerity that results in something that, for me at least, is very captivating. Hannah's vocals may not be everyone's cup of tea however, and will most likely be the deciding factor of whether you like this band or not. The Deluxe edition of this album contains 17 tracks. The opening track "Hey Now", starts with a simple chord progression on keyboard joined soon after by picking on the guitar and then vocals and the occasional drum hits. One thing I love about this band is just how much space is left open in the songs and this is a great example. Hannah's vocal glides from low to high notes effortlessly and the song builds in dynamic intensity from start to finish. Track 2, "Stay Awake" starts off gently with the piano played over an atmospheric soundscape before a trippy sounding drum beat joins in. The musical arrangements are interesting and it is clear that the members in the band are very talented musicians. "Shyer" is one of my favorites on the album. Dans guitar work and the electronic percussion elements give the song a great forward motion and later on in the song backing vocals from Dan and Dot really take the song to new found sonic heights. "Sights" is a wonderful example of this bands ability to tell a story not just lyrically but also musically. Dots piano and Hannah's vocal interplay wonderfully in the beginning of the song whilst Dan's guitar playing builds tension and creates atmosphere. One should keep in mind that instrumentally, all that sound is created by just two musicians - an incredible feat. "Strong" is an enjoyable song that builds from a few simple guitar notes to a barrage of sound. I think this song is the one to check out first if you haven't heard the band before - it's a great showcase of Hannah's vocals. Songs like "Metal & Dust" and "Flickers" are more up tempo and provide a nice break from the more introspective sounding songs on the album. The Deluxe edition is worth getting for "Help" alone, an emotional piano driven song in the vein of Adele's turning tables. I'm really surprised this didn't make it onto the standard version of the album, it's a fantastic song. The deluxe edition also contains "Darling are you going to leave me" a vibey song driven by an African djembe drum, "High Life" and "Maybe" another faster song with a catchy chorus. Overall I think this is a great first album by the band and i'm very much looking forward to hearing what they have in store for us. Fans of the XX, Florence and the machine and chvrches should check this band out but even fans of more commercial pop and electronic genres might be pleasantly surprised.