Song Review - The Grand Union - "Darkest Horse"
REVIEW BY: JADE GUIDA
ARTICLE BY: MONIKA SMITH
The Grand Union is a 5-piece hard rock band based in Sydney. Darkest Horse is the second single released by the Band; it follows the release of Cathedral of Pain in May 2021.
Darkest Horse is a track dripping with sultry tones and underpinned by an explosive conviction of quality song writing. The song comes out of the gate strong with a sound that I could only describe as an amalgamation of classic rock with sprinkle vintage 70s sound and feel.
The band strikes a balance between the more classic elements of rock music, its gritty almost hungry in the way that all good classic rock is but they have managed to weave in this very light crisp quality that dominated 70s rock. The band is cool. The song is cool. It is effortless, the bands cohesive writing style is striking and creates for an immersive listening experience.
The vocals are buttery and frankly have that sex appeal that all the memorable Rock vocalists have. Sonically the band have hit it out of the park. It’s a fresh take on a classic genre. I was pleasantly surprised by how well packaged this song was, its expertly written and produced.
Its like The Grand Union sent 2021 a gift and was kind enough to gift wrap it. I spent 4:54 untying a perfectly placed bow and peeling back wrapping paper and at the end I was thoroughly satisfied with what I had been given. The riff is catchy without being typical. I can’t fault the writing, the musicianship, and the overall feel of the song.
It is well done.
It is clever song creating, is has all the right classic elements, it has just enough of a familiar quality that it’s easy to listen to all while the band strives to make clear that they bring their own spice to the table.
The accompanying video only adds to what is already an A grade song. Its enigmatic, sensual almost- I can only draw a parallel to The Doors and that untouchable Rockstar quality. Coupling together the song and the video you have a winning release.
This band in undeniably going to be a force to be reckoned with in the Sydney scene in the foreseeable future.
The Grand Union is a Sydney-based 5-piece hard rock band with members from from all corners of this strange and wonderful planet we call home. The commander-in-chief-song-writer, Stu, is frequently seen tossing his Strat around and offering silky vocal harmonies over Jack's vocals. Jack is the band's newest member, joining in January 2021, and his gloomy, buttery melodic voice belie his youth. Marques "The Animal" Bragg is one of Sydney's most reliable rock drummers, keeping the ship at the back together with metronomic ease.
Rohin can usually be found with his Les-Paul perched on the nearest foldback, laying down riffs and rhythms and scowling in between his NZ-accented public statements. While Paul is never far away, finger-picking the coils off his bass strings with furious determination and, for someone from Manchester, surprising pleasantness!
The Grand Union's second single, Darkest Horse, was released in May 2021, following Cathedral of Pain. It's the group's first music video, shot (thankfully) right before the June lockdown on the outskirts of Sydney. Mix master Michael Carpenter produced the tune, which was recorded earlier this year in Sydney at Love Htz Studios in Leichhardt.
