Album Review: Griff, Vertigo

Serving as a prologue to Vertigo, Griff primed her fans with two EPs in the form of vert1go and ver2igo; the former represented insular low feelings and the latter expressed what the singer called ‘desperate euphoria’.

Vertigo, the LP, is the synthesis of these emotions, resulting in an intoxicating ode to youth culture – and to young adult life. From the wildly exuberant ‘Astronaut’ – co-written by Chris Martin of Coldplay – to the dark moodiness of ‘Miss Me Too’, Vertigo successfully explores the emotional landscape of teenage girlhood.

There’s plenty of melodrama, notably on ‘Anything’, which also boasts some slick vocal production. The album skilfully mixes ballads and anthemic bangers, with the opening title-track sounding especially pulsating. Indeed, the tune nicely sets the tone for the record, the upbeat grooves offsetting the moody lyrics in a manner reminiscent of Lorde.

Rounding out the LP, meanwhile, is the stripped back, distorted ‘Where Did You Go?’ Raw, youthful, occasionally dark and often fun, Vertigo is sure to soundtrack an enormous amount of adolescent heartbreak.

7/10