Album Notes

REMIX (review)

"Grandadbob is both subtle and punked out, the kind of music that sounds instantly familiar, but the more you listen, the more beautiful and rich it becomes. With an eclectic array of tunes -- from the funky "Your Mama," to twinges of Lamb in "Open Mouthed"; a homage to Cassius in "This is It," to stripped-down trip-hop in "Killed by Sweets," and a meltdown of Pac-Man-bleeps meet Blondie-on-acid in "Anger Thy Neighbor" -- this album is a slinky, sexy release that wanders through the metaphors of the 70's and 80's, all the while injecting a thoroughly heartfelt, sassy twist. The perfect album for a balmy afternoon." - Deana Morgan - REMIX MAGAZINE

URB (review)

Grandadbob "Waltzes for Weirdoes" (Lax)

"A quaint boy-girl duo from Sheffield, England, Grandadbob want to make you move. Specifically, the seem to be vying for "high-energy Rurals" status, although, unlike that Devonshiire house pair, Grandadbob's Dave Johnson and Vanessa Robinson claim not to be lovers (White Stripes redux, anyone?). Regardless, the two cook up smooth, simmering house grooves, well done and ready for a dance floor near you.

They utilize a variety of beat styles across the album. "Let's Sick on the Decks" is a prime-time banger, popping basslines and trippy vocal samples pitched-up to party-time levels. "Your Mama" angles for the funk with chicken-picked guitars, "3am Gherkin" turns up the heat with a simmering groove and ecstasy-enhancing synths while "Killed by Sweets" hangs out in Portishead's back garden. There are a lot of good ideas here, Grandadbob will [soon be] an act to emulate."

CMJ New Music Report (review)

Grandadbob "Waltzes for Weirdoes" (Lax)

With a name like Grandadbob and with an album entitled Waltzes For Weirdoes, we knew we were in for something a little different. But different is good in the case of Grandadbob, because this is one hell of an album. At the core is the group's serious approach to songwriting and arrangement. Producing actual songs, it relies heavily on gorgeous vocals rather than just offering an album's worth of instrumentals. Think Bent, Daft Punk, Gus Gus and Moloko whipped in a blender. This is one strong cocktail. - Justin Kleinfeld - CMJ New Music Report


Grandadbob's Biotastical Bio:

Sheffield's newest freaky dancers know what to expect when someone looks at them quizzically. "People inevitably ask us the same two questions, says 25-year-old producer Dave Johnson, "It's always 'who is Grandadbob?'‚ followed by 'so, are you two shagging?'"

It's the kind of boy-girl dynamite that has powered many duos, but Grandadbob - memorably described as 'The White Stripes of Electronic Music' - aren‚t playing on it too hard. So are they shagging? Dave looks at his vocalist and flatmate Vanessa Robinson, and they shake their heads politely. The first question they insist, is the really interesting one.

"Grandadbob is my Grandad and he's called Bob" says Vanessa, who once spent a summer singing with a swing band. "Do you remember Ted Bovis from (1980's comedy show, based in a fictional holiday camp) Hi-De-Hi? He's just like that except older. You pull his finger and he'll trump. Wonderful man."

"I just smoke imported cigars with him" says Dave. "He's brilliant, and he
gave us a name when we really couldn't think of one."

Bob HQ is an unassuming terraced house in Sheffield. Dave's room is upstairs, and Vanessa's is downstairs and between the two, both literally and metaphorically, is the studio. "I'll be in the studio, writing, or playing the guitar, and she'll come running and and go "I've got something for that!" Or I'll walk into her room and she'll be on the floor with her headphones on. There's always music on, always loops on the go, always music everywhere." It sounds lovely.

"It is!" says Vanessa. "You get up on the morning and think - there's the studio, there's the kettle. What a lovely day."

The album title was also born of their hearth-warm living arrangements. "I was teaching Dave to waltz in the kitchen because he can't waltz and everyone should be able to waltz. He was like you're a wierdo, waltzing in the kitchen, and then went waltzes for wierdos! And went off to scribble it in his notebook."

"Even if we weren't doing music we'd be housemates" says Dave. "We get on really well."

The album, recorded, of course, at their home, is a rainbow-splattered fusion of bouncy house music, ultra late-night squelches and squalls, balearic acoustic guitar, distorted pop melodies and Vanessa's cinematic, melted-at-the-edges vocals. "It's bright and giddy and funky," says Vanessa of the record. "It's either mellow or moody and it slides around a lot."

'City Approach' is a rainy-day driving tune complete with mutant disco moments, 'MMMnn' is a laid-back summer stunner, with a scientifically perfect combination of breathy, blissed-out narco vocals and forward-motion house music. It's guaranteed to be bleeding out of headphones on beaches everywhere, the song you'll be taking with you as spring warms into summer. 'This Is It' pulls no punches and aims straight at the dancefloor with a well-aimed missile of filtered disco and helium vocals, and both 'Maybe' and 'Just Show Me' slow things back down to the hills and valleys of GDB's chill communication.

It's loud, then it's soulfully lush. It's covering all shades. "Waltzes For Weirdoes" then, is perfect for these confused and confusing times.

"There's loads of bands out there" says Vanessa. "But we're not trying to be anything apart for just being us. We just want to make brilliant, daft music." It's a very Grandadbob sentiment. And if you listen to Waltzes For Wierdos, or caught them playing one of their draw-you-in live shows, you'll probably find that as far as brilliant and daft go, they've already got it wrapped up.