Grey Tickles, Black Pressure


Grey Tickles, Black Pressure is the third solo album by American musician John Grant. It was released via Bella Union on October 9, 2015.

Production

The album's title stems from the literal translation of two foreign phrases: "grey tickles" is an Icelandic phrase for approaching middle age, while "black pressure" is the Turkish term for a nightmare. Grant stated that he wanted to get "angrier and moodier" on the album, although he enjoyed the process of making it more than his previous two.
The album's trailer features Grant in the midst of a psychotic break, covered in blood and wielding a croquet mallet as a weapon. He described it as a fantasy of "what would like to do every time somebody calls a faggot". The album features three guests: English singer Tracey Thorn features on the track "Disappointing", American singer Amanda Palmer provides backing vocals on "You & Him", and English drummer Budgie plays the drums on every track. The latter would also go on tour as Grant's drummer.

Reception

The album received acclaim. NME named it "one of the albums of the year" and praised both its personal lyrics and pop melodies. On their own lists of the best albums of the year, The Guardian and Rough Trade respectively placed it at No. 38 and No. 11. Time named the 11th track on the album, "Disappointing", as the fifth best song of 2015.

Personnel

Primary musicians
  • John Grant – lead vocals, keyboards, synth programming and sequencing
  • Pétur Hallgrímsson – guitar
  • Jakob Smári Magnússon – bass
  • Budgie – drums
Additional musicians
  • Amanda Palmer – additional vocals
  • Tracey Thorn – additional vocals
  • Fiona Brice – additional vocals, string, brass and vocal arrangements, violin
  • Tierannye Sparks – additional vocals
  • Alisa Alexander – additional vocals
  • Bobby Sparks – keyboards
  • John Congleton – synth programming and sequencing, drum programming and sequencing
  • David Monsch – bass clarinet
  • Matt Milewski – violin
  • Natalie Floyd – violin
  • Sarah Carmichael – violin
  • Buffi Jacobs – cello
  • Debbie Brooks – cello
  • Keith Jourdan – trumpet
  • Peter Clagett – trumpet
  • David Pierce – trombone
  • Carl Murr – trombone
  • Simon Willats – tuba
  • Heather Test – French horn
  • Wes Baggaley – spoken word
  • Olafur Darri Olafsson – spoken word
  • Petra Hallberg – spoken word
  • Jeppe Kjellberg – spoken word
  • Billy Novik – spoken word
  • Karl Neukauf – spoken word
  • Carys Connolly – spoken word