London – Managing to please everybody in an open plan office with your choice of music is a challenging feat. With as many different tastes as there are people, its neigh-on impossible to keep everybody happy (or indeed stop them from whinging).  However, without exception, no album has gone down on our floor as well as London Grammar’s debut release, “If You Wait”. Indeed, it even got a second play!

There’s something about the three-piece, consisting of Hannah Reid, Dot Major and Dan Rothman, which seems to connect with all who come across their music, with this universal accessibility leading to the album reaching #2 in the UK album chart upon its release.  Reid’s vocals are Florence-esq but somehow smoother and less cutting, the guitars and keys twiddle in the background like a well-rehearsed jam session and the whole vibe is so incredibly laid back that the music somehow makes you feel comfortable. Like slipping into a hot bath, which incidentally would be an amazing place to listen to the album.

Opening with the much loved “Hey Now”, a song which has been on just about every playlist I’ve put together since the start of the year; their distinctive sound is present from the start. The official track on London Grammar’s YouTube channel has amassed over 1.5 million views but I’m a sucker for a good stripped back rendition and thanks to heavy blog and TV interest, there’s plenty to choose from, all of which showcasing the tightness of the band who met at Nottingham University in 2009.

Whilst there are no weak points on the album, as always some tracks hit harder than others with “Interlude” and “Sights” standing out, alongside singles “Metal and Dust”, “Strong” and “Wasting My Young Years”.  That said, it’s almost a discredit to some of the other tracks which without doubt are stronger than even the best material on some other albums released in the past few months.

“Interlude” is a particularly haunting song which flows perfectly from start to finish, being carried along by gentle piano which wouldn’t be out of place on an Einaudi record.  The four minute track glides by with it being so easy to fully lose yourself as Reid tells a heart-wrenchingly romantic tale with genuine sincerity – “would you really want me in the light of day?”

There’s an ethereal quality to Reid’s voice which draws you into the music which is basic, yet extremely effective.  If anything more complicated were going on with the other instrumentation, the tracks would risk being messy, however they provide a perfect bed for the lyrics to dance around on top of.  Earlier in the year, the band recorded a session in which they covered Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” although one imagines that it wasn’t too much of a stretch for the trio.  If you were to try and describe their sound via comparison, “Wicked Game” with female vocals wouldn’t be too far away.  Have a listen, tell me I’m wrong.

On “If You Wait”, London Grammar talk of wasting their young years.  If what they’ve done so far has been wasted time, the band in a proactive mood would certainly be something to behold. It is quite simply a beautiful album which is irrefutably listenable.  The band is spending the rest of the year touring Europe before visiting Australia for The Falls Music & Arts Festival in late December. New Year’s in the Aussie sun listening to London Grammar? Yes Please.