You’d be forgiven for thinking that ‘Disconnect’ is the result of several talented musicians collaborating together, but you’d be wrong. While Leeds-based multi-instrumentalist Jack Bennett has the talent, skill and disciplines of numerous people, Grumble Bee is but one man. Across this five-track debut EP, Bennett traverses the whole spectrum of human emotion to create a truly genre-agnostic masterpiece. Forget whether you like heavy music, mellow music, soulful music, or whatever kind of music; if you like music then you have to check this out.
Bennett’s emotive vocals emerge as a key feature of the record almost immediately, his smooth delivery swallowing up ‘Lapwing’s calm piano opening before the impassioned rasp of the chorus plucks at your heart-strings. The infectious toe-tapping rhythm of ‘Francium’ oozes soul and as another emotive chorus hits hard, it’s clear that this heartfelt delivery is not only a theme, but a signature sound.
With short track lengths and so much melody in the vocals, ‘Disconnect’s songs are ideal as easily accessible pop-rock songs, however if you dig deeper you’ll find another level that reveals Bennett’s obvious talent as a songwriter and musician. ‘Soft Filter, Black & White Picture’s free-form structure and rhythm should be confusing, but the cleverly arranged vocals give the song an inexplicable amount of groove and intensely melodic hooks. As the sole songwriter, Bennett is afforded the freedom and opportunity to structure these effects down to the individual notes and each accent and inflection works its magic on your ears as each song progresses.
Travelling to Interlace Studios in the US to work with Kris Crummett has paid huge dividends, the producer’s signature style of pure instrumental clarity matching the aesthetic of the EP perfectly. Fans of Crummett’s work with Dance Gavin Dance will undoubtedly enjoy closing track ‘H.C.A.D.C.’, whose uplifting tempo and intricate rhythms pay homage to the progressive post-hardcore act’s ‘Happiness’ album. It’s another indication of Bennett’s versatility and flexibility as a songwriter and though it’s clear that he’s been influenced by several different styles, his excellent songwriting skills mean he’s been able to mould them all into a package that’s cohesive and has its own signature sound.
‘Disconnect’ sits at the centre of the genre Venn diagram, celebrating the virtues of many styles rather than catering for just one. Furthermore, it manages to balance the needs of music listeners looking for a quick fix of catchy pop-rock songs, with those of the musically obsessive, looking for a deeper, more technical experience. Rarely do you find records capable of uniting so many demographics and tastes, yet Grumble Bee manages this in one unique, five-track package, making this debut EP an incredibly special record that deserves to be celebrated and heard by as wide an audience as possible.
MARK JOHNSON