Lopez Blogs

Gravitonas have been one of the most thrilling new acts to emerge this year. They haven't hidden behind flashy gimmicks or musical trends - they've just continued to put out quality singles and EPs that are lyrically insightful (often devastatingly so) matched with visually arresting videos. They are now back with their second EP (Coliseum) and third single (You Break Me Up). After playing them almost non-stop for a day now, I'm here to give you my initial thoughts on this release. (for more thoughts on Gravitonas, read about Kites here, Religious video and their debut EP here)...

• You Break Me Up ~ I honestly thought that nothing could top the awe inspiring Religious. This epic piece of musical creation will definitely be one of my top pop tunes of 2010 and continues to resonate with me today. You Break Me Up is a different, more sombre creature but no less enticing and is still dripping with musical genius. If I were a boyband, I would be begging my management to get me a song like this. The song is an elegant ballad that wisely begins with a focus on Andreas' haunting vocal, which I could easily listen to all day. Lyrically, it's a brutally honest depiction of a fractured relationship, the type where it's as joyous as it is painful. The subdued lyrics are matched by a glorious backing track - a militant drum beat, soaring strings and a delicate but prominent guitar riff. Every element of the tune has been lovingly crafted together to create a sonic listening experience that complements everything within the tune. The middle 8 is somehow gutwrenchingly emotional - there aren't many times a guitar solo can do that to me, but coming out of the sometimes gloomy, sometimes optimistic lyrics it just adds to the overall feeling imbued within the tune. An astonishingly effective piece of work.
• Dry Your Eyes ~ no, not a cover of The Streets "classic" - this is a string laden dance number. Dance with an organic, tribal feeling to it - and thematically, it actually flows well as a pep talk to the protaganist of the You Break Me Up number. It's actually quite inspirational - a kind way of saying, oh get over it, you are better than this; now move on and achieve greatness. Once again a fine vocal from Andreas and he and Alexander can sit down and give me this sort of pep talk any old time. The strings are lush in this. It takes me back to my school days and wanting to finger a violin all over again (my parents made me take clarinet instead!)
• Not Gonna Be Dancing ~ what a magnificent intro this has. Very dramatic. Instantly, my mind went to BWO's We Should Be Dancing, Scissor Sisters' I Don't Feel Like Dancing and Same Difference's If You Can't Dance. This is a swirling rave infused number that still manages to weave the rock elements of Gravitonas' mission statement into the mix. There are strings, beats, guitar and pounding drums with a euphoric middle 8. I'm praying that there will be some remixes of this at some point in the future. Also want to see this performed live (well every track) as can only imagine what an amazing performance it has to go with it. Definitely strong enough to be a single, and continuing the somewhat downbeat theme of the EP. Actually, this track is almost like a gothic fairytale single; everything about it is a nightmare (in a good way) - the singer doesn't want to dance without his lady/fella yet is trapped in this darkened instrumental that almost forces one to get up and shimmy. Very clever indeed. Almost a juxtaposition of lyric to music and again, one that works incredibly well.
• Youth Is Wasted On The Young ~ love the title. Alone, this makes it epic. Built around a synth beat, it deals with one of life's great travesties - youth is celebrated, yet often youth don't have the resources to deal with it. Then as we get older, we are trapped in lives we didn't always plan and don't have the energy/know how of how to change life. Clever little bonmots in the lyrics make this extra special "you can tell your Dr Jekyl, he's been hiding Mr Hyde"... A fine end to a downbeat EP that still manages to make you feel grand, only for the fact that you are listening to some of the finest pop creations this year.

• It's possible that this is a continuation of Religious. Alexander is a priest again and at the end of that clip, Andreas was reborn through his baptism in a rather cold looking sea. This clip starts off with a funeral - Andreas as it turns out :( No one that beautiful should die so young!
• The funeral procession - and the sad nature of it - is offset by it being surrounded by tweeting birds and some lovely outdoor nature. Clever use of imagery - life mixed with death. Andreas looks a bit wobbly in the coffin, but has a singalong anyway, much like Darin after he'd been murdered in Lovekiller...
• The coffin carriers (surely there is a better name for them than this?!) manage to get the coffin over a dodgy looking brick wall and then start dressing appropriately for the ceremony. It's all robes and incense.
• Nighttime falls and a grave is dug for Andreas. Shots of the full moon and dirt being thrown on the coffin, mixed with the masked nature of those at the ceremony give it a distinctly eerie feel. The camera pans down to about, ooo, i should think six feet under...
• From about 2m to about 2m25, you get Andreas singing from his coffin, with roots already penetrating his early grave. I know I shouldn't really be focusing on this, but he has a really amazing pair of boots on. If anyone wants to send me a pair of boots like this, you should absolutely feel free and receive karmic reward...
• The middle 8 flits between nighttime tribalistic banging of the drums and daytime guitar solo, with the guitarist wearing a very flowing cape a la Madonna in Frozen.
• In porn, the scene at 2m55 is often called the money shot. This isn't porn however, just glorious imagery - as Andreas decomposes, roots become flowers bringing new life and a Christlike Andreas is reborn, bathed in light. Massive symbolism here, and I'm convinced this is linked to the end of Religious...
• Various natural elements rise around Andreas, like a halo of life while Alexander looks on. It's unclear whether this is their combined doing or just the rebirth of Andreas but it's rather marvelous.
• At the end the chanting of Alexander seems to have bought Andreas back to life. YAY! Is there nothing this man can't do? He's like Willow in the season six premiere of Buffy! Another glorious video. I'm so smitten with Gravitonas :)