ALBUM REVIEW: Geordie Greep: "Holy, Holy"
It took me a month to listen to the new Geordie Greep single. Maybe it’s because it came out in the middle of my move to Los Angeles, maybe it's because I just never found the time. But the dramatic music writer in me wants to say that it took me so long because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Black Midi.Nemahsis first gained traction online after releasing her first single “What If I Took it Off For You?” in 2021, after being exploited by a company for an ad campaign. The song went viral on TikTok, with Muslim women using the song to talk about their experiences with the hijab and how it has inspired them.
Since the release of their 2019 debut Schlagenheim, British art school rockers Black Midi have established themselves as one of the most thrilling acts in modern music, pairing prog and post-hardcore influences with a ferocious musicality (check out their live KEXP sessions for proof). As a musician myself, I admired the band’s ability to effectively highlight their technical prowess without taking away from the music. Naturally, when I found out about Black Midi’s decision to break up, I went and listened to their entire catalog, re-familiarizing myself with the band’s beautifully chaotic sound—squealing brass, frenetic guitars, and inhuman drumming. I wasn’t sure what Geordie Greep, the band’s frontman, would do in a solo context. It’s better than anything I could have imagined.
“Enigmatic” is an overused descriptor when it comes to frontmen, but the word feels tailor-made for Geordie Greep. Everything he does—from his rambling lyrical musings to the posts on his eight different Instagram accounts—is peculiar in the most fantastic way. There’s an absurdity to his humor that feels all at once semi-ironic, philosophically nuanced, and effortless. I can only say the same about his music. Geordie Greep’s first single as a solo artist is unconventional, highly ambitious, and utterly fantastic.
“Holy Holy” was released on August 20 as the lead single for Greep’s upcoming debut solo album, The New Sound. The piece is highly ambitious, attempting to blend elements of post-punk, prog, funk, and latin jazz fusion—all held together by a theatrical bravado that highlights the performative nature of Greep’s lyrics. Here, he plays the character of a sleazy “pickup artist” who paints himself as a god. But as the track progresses, his words gradually expose the misogynistic insecurities that fuel his fabricated arrogance.
Ever present is Greep’s impressive musicianship. The song hits hard right out of the gate, opening with a series of stabs à la Black Midi. As the track moves into the verse, rhythmic accents move in and out of time, as if being conducted by a drunk Greep. Every once in a while, the narrator “misses” a note, leaving us with a moment of dissonance. But he moves on with the same dramatic arrogance.
The arrangement is remarkably diverse, featuring latin percussion, bluesy piano, a searing lead guitar, and moments of choral bliss. As if that’s not enough, saxophone, harp, and shimmery synths accents pop up now and then. On paper, effectively incorporating all these elements into a track would seem impossible, but “Holy, Holy” feels shockingly cohesive. This can be attributed in large part to the mix. Each element has a clear sense of space, and they interact with each other beautifully. Nothing feels flat; everything comes together to create a distinctly lively character that keeps the listener on their toes. This ambition is reflected similarly in the song’s structure; it unfolds with funky verses, latin jazz passages, a fusion guitar solo, and a spacey bridge section that mirrors a tonal shift in the lyrics. Simply put, “Holy, Holy” refuses to sit still. The song is full of character; Greep’s semi-ironic oddball humor is potent, the textures diverse, and the structure ever-evolving.
As I finish this (unusually long) review, I am left feeling bittersweet. Black Midi may be gone, but early signs indicate the band’s brilliance carrying on through Geordie Greep’s solo material. If “Holy, Holy” is any sign of what to expect on The New Sound, I eagerly await the project’s October 4 release. In spite of being cautious with my words, “Holy Holy” is a masterpiece of a song. I wish I had listened to it sooner.
RIYL: Black Midi, King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Blasting yacht rock in the car
FCC: Sexual content
-DJ Redvines AKA Shalen Farahi