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Nomadic multi-instrumentalist and singer Justin Grounds' music has such a timeless, mystical quality that it is no surprise that his own life has taken a similarly wild and romantic road. Born into a family of intellectuals, priests and hippies, his musical education was unorthadox and unique, collecting instruments from a very early age, foraging ideas from classical sonatas to drum'n'bass and funk grooves, setting his own feet and voice on its own solitary path.
Leaving home (who knows where that ever was?) and packing his bags with a laptop, some mics and a handful of ideas, he made the 2006 record 'Francesco' on a long journey around the world, performing and recording in some of the most extraordinary places, from a Hawaiian monastary to a housing project in downtown Vancouver. The album was released by Creative Vibes Records and met critical praise both in Australia and the UK, with the Herald Sun newspaper calling Grounds a ‘vagabond arrived at a magical musical place’, and naming the album a ‘rare hidden gem’ of 2006. Taking his vibrant and ever evolving live show on the road for a year after the release, Grounds paired his unique voice with a richly woven texture of live loops and layers of his violins and guitars (sometimes beaten into rhythms), delivering one-off performances full of the dark romanticism and spiritual grit of his songs.
2008 saw the release of the darker electro-acoustic record 'Love is Strong as Death'. This album, with its deeply existential lyrical style, brought Grounds' musical dynamic to an even greater level of depth; fusing his unusual use of instrumentation together with his love of experimenting with technology, seamlessly weaving subtle layers of analog and digital textures with strings, guitars, wineglasses and percussion. Soaring above these layers are the songs, deeply emotive and mystical, at times fragile and romantic, at times rugged and burnished. With tours to support the record in Australia, the USA, the UK and Ireland , Grounds finely tuned his experimental stage show, building his own electronic live loop setup to include laptop, analog synth, viola and thumb piano, and gathered more critical acclaim.
Grounds now lives and works in Inchydoney, West Cork, Ireland and tours in the UK, Ireland and Canada. June 2009 sees the release of the live album ‘Hold onto your Soul’, recorded at the legendary De Barra’s of Clonakilty. He is working on a new record in a new style, combining more electronic sounds with strings, acoustic instruments and ambient recordings., which hopes to be released on vinyl and download later in the year.
A FEW QUOTES:
"the stunning new album from Melbourne-based electro-acoustic indie visionary Justin Grounds, full of lush arrangements, velvety, eclectic instrumentation, thought-provoking writing and Grounds' hauntingly beautiful voice....the world is simply a better place for the existence of Love is Strong as Death, and that's not something that can be said too often, or too sincerely, about a lot of art."
-Inpress Magazine-
"Justin Grounds, wearer of old suits, multi-instrumentalist, and occasional existentialist is a man who treads his own paths and deserves due respect for that alone....When Grounds takes his own advice: “It’s time to spread your wings and fly” on the albums highlight Earth is a Woman, the result is a splendiferous thing to behold – for he truly has a majestic command of restraint that makes the release all the more euphoric. These tracks alone make this album worth owning." -Alternative Media Group-
"an album of understated class. It really is a great listen. His voice is rich and melodic, and the compositions themselves are brilliant. Off-kilter, almost syncopated guitar lines, lend a Go-Betweens style air to proceedings that is stunningly effective...this album is a grower, and a stunner, and I recommend it highly." -thedwarf.com-
“Full of excellent songs and gorgeous musical ideas, even straying into drum and bass territory. His touch is superb...a damn lovely album that has continued to spin on my player.”
-PBS fm-
"...it’s easy to be seduced by a record that imagines a parallel universe where Eno produced Pink Moon. The lovely Blossom Place, the squelchy laptop rhythms of Reaching Into Darkness and the impassioned title track provide some of the most affecting moments... desolate Nick Drake-esque ballads reconfigured into post-millennial tone poems." -Rave Magazine-
...the closest thing to Jeff Buckley I've ever heard, both in style and quality. Justin Grounds has the potential to be remembered for someone with a truckload of musical credibility."
-The Brag Magazine-
A rare, hidden gem from a forest full of troubadours....Francesco is a gentle charmer with haunting moodiness and yearning ache....well-crafted songs and sweet melodies.
-Sunday Herald Sun-
With a beautifully emotive voice and interesting compositions make him a very special prospect and definitely one to watch for 2007. -Narc Magazine, UK-
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