The House of Love - State Of Grace

Nine years after their last release, 2013’s She Paints Words In Red and hot on the heels of Burn Down The World, their recently released and highly recommended eight-disc box set covering their time on Fontana Records, The House of Love is back with a new lineup (with the exception of Guy Chadwick) and a new album State Of Grace.  Along with the new lineup, which was initially put together before the pandemic for an American 30th Anniversary tour, there is a bit of a new direction musically for the band.  It is a more eclectic collection and the first of their albums to contain harp, pedal and lap steel guitar, banjo and violin.  While there are moments like the upbeat title track, the heavy, wall of guitar blasts of the hard hitting “Melody Rose” and “Clouds”, an easygoing track with swirling guitars, hooks galore and great backing vocals that all harken back to their classic sound, they are largely an exception to the rule.  Right out the gate with the opening harmonica blast on “Sweet Loser” you can tell things are different.  It’s a slow, swirling tune on the mellow side, with hypnotic guitars that languidly twist and turn, interspersed with more harmonica.  The harmonica shows up again, along with some banjo, on the next track “Light Of The Morning”, a catchy, upbeat, psychedelic, country blues track.  Things get a little mellower on the next two cuts, the ballad “Into The Laughter”, which includes a great guitar solo, and “Hey Babe” with its hints of country and even a little twang.  They kick things back into high gear with “Sweet Water”, a straight-ahead rock tune with some bluesier guitar and lots of harmonica that gives it a bit of a Stones feel.  “Queen Of Song” is an easygoing country-tinged track with a bit of a bounce, while “In My Mind” has a laid-back, very relaxed pace, meshing a classic The House of Love influence with a bit of country, and “Dice Are Rolling” is a more upbeat song that has a hook-filled drive that lulls you in and is mesmerizingly hypnotic.  “Just One More Song” is a mellow, bluesy country tune that closes the disc out perfectly.  Acoustic guitars, pedal steel, violin and singalong vocals turn it into what sounds like a welcoming campfire singalong.  Even though it's not what long-time fans will be expecting from The House Of Love, State Of Grace is an outstanding addition to their discography that’s well worth checking out.  

(Cherry Red Records)