Californian Soil

Thematically, although it remains a collaborative effort with the rest of the band, the album is vocalist Hannah Reid's 'story'.{{Cite magazine |last=Mims |first=Taylor |date=2021-04-15 |title=London Grammar's Hannah Reid Stands Her Ground on New Album 'Californian Soil': 'You Can't Censor Yourself' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/london-grammar-interview-californian-soil-9556607/ |access-date=2022-05-18 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} Reid said the album deals with themes of feminism and fame. She wrote:

{{blockquote|This record is about gaining possession of my own life. You imagine success will be amazing. Then you see it from the inside and ask, "Why am I not controlling this thing? Why am I not allowed to be in control of it? And does that connect, in any way to being a woman? If so, how can I do that differently?"}}

Reid stated that things need to be different from her efforts on the preceding album (Truth Is a Beautiful Thing); "I wasn't making myself very vulnerable and I didn't feel like I was taking any risks."{{Cite web |date=2021-02-19 |title=London Grammar: "I always end up being the only female in the room" |url=https://www.nme.com/big-reads/london-grammar-cover-interview-2021-californian-soil-2884129 |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} The songwriting was influenced by Reid's ultimatum for change following years of sexism and misogyny within the music industry:

{{blockquote|I did say to Dan and Dot, "I don't want this to end, but something does have to change because I just can't keep doing my best work or going out on the road if I'm going to come back and feel this way."}}

In particular, I Need the Night addresses Reid's experiences with the music industry. America also ruminates on Reid's toxic experiences despite the fame, her fibromyalgia diagnosis and the contrasts between poverty and beauty while travelling.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-16 |title=London Grammar's Hannah Reid Stands Firm on Californian Soil |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/london-grammar/london-grammar-californian-soil-interview/ |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=pastemagazine.com |language=en}} Major emphasised that the band supported Reid's direction for the album; "lyrically, Californian Soil is very much about Hannah’s experience as a woman, and we wanted that message to come through as loud as possible."

Writing and demoing for the album began in 2017 at Rothamn's home, in his hidden 'Narnia' studio. It was the first time the band had begun production on an album without an executive producer. How Does It Feel and Call Your Friends were written initially by Reid and producer Steve Mac in separate writing sessions, before eventually the rest of the band finalised the songs.{{Cite web |last=Fuamoli |first=Words by Sose |date=2021-04-23 |title=How London Grammar's two crises brought us Californian Soil |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/london-grammar-californian-soul-feature-album-interview/13315646 |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=triple j |language=en}} Reid acknowledged that the album's external producers - Mac, George FitzGerald and Charlie Andrew - were all male, which stands out given the album's feminist themes; "it was a big conflict within me...It’s changing now but there aren’t many female producers out there. That’s something that I really hope can change and it’s something that I do want to think about for a fourth album." The album was completed in 2019, and initially scheduled for a 2020 release. However, the band chose to delay the release to 2021 due to the pandemic; "we felt this was the most upbeat album we have probably ever made. In the middle of a pandemic, there is a risk that this just won’t connect right now. There was no rush and I’m glad we waited.”

The album was announced on 1 October 2020, alongside the release of the title track. The band said the track was a "turning point" for them, deciding to name the album after the song.

On 5 January 2021, the band posted on their Twitter page that the release date had been postponed to 9 April of that same year, before being subsequently pushed back to 16 April. No reason was given for either delay.{{cite tweet |author=London Grammar |user=londongrammar |title=Californian Soil / April 9th |number=1346396135267704834 |date=5 January 2021 |access-date=13 January 2021}}

Californian Soil was preceded by four singles: "Baby It's You", released on 19 August 2020,{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2095296/london-grammar-baby-its-you/music/ |title=London Grammar – "Baby It's You" |website=Stereogum |date=19 August 2020 |access-date=25 January 2021 |last=Helman |first=Peter}} the title track, released on 1 October 2020, "Lose Your Head", released on 4 January 2021{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/london-grammar-lose-your-head-new-single-californian-soil-single-video-listen-2849164/ |title=Listen to London Grammar's heavenly and "empowering" new single "Lose Your Head" |work=NME Australia |date=4 January 2021 |access-date=25 January 2021 |last=Trendell |first=Andrew}} and "How Does It Feel" on 12 March 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/london-grammar-new-single-how-does-it-feel-listen-2897262|title=Listen to London Grammar's beautiful new single "How Does It Feel"|work=NME|date=12 March 2021|access-date=12 March 2021}} "Lord It's a Feeling" was released as the fifth single on 21 May 2021.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 6.9/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/12819/London-Grammar-Californian-Soil-.aspx|title=Californian Soil – London Grammar|website=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=17 April 2021}}

| MC = 77/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/californian-soil-mw0003438436|title=Californian Soil – London Grammar|website=AllMusic|first=Neil Z.|last=Yeung|access-date=17 April 2021|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417112308/https://www.allmusic.com/album/californian-soil-mw0003438436|url-status=live}}

| rev2 = Clash

| rev2score = 8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/london-grammar-californian-soil|title=London Grammar – Californian Soil|work=Clash|first=Dave|last=Beech|date=15 April 2021|access-date=17 April 2021|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417112743/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/london-grammar-californian-soil|url-status=live}}

| rev3 = The Daily Telegraph

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev5 = The Independent

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Helen|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/london-grammar-review-californian-soil-b1831125.html|title=London Grammar review, Californian Soil: Sun-dazed album is braced by Hannah Reid's sense of purpose|work=The Independent|date=16 April 2021|access-date=15 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418155807/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/london-grammar-review-californian-soil-b1831125.html|archive-date=18 April 2021}}

| rev6 = The Line of Best Fit

| rev6score = 9/10

| rev7 = NME

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Mylrea|first=Hannah|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/london-grammar-californian-soil-review-2919628|title=London Grammar – 'Californian Soil' review: indie band plant their flag firmly in the ground|work=NME|date=14 April 2021|access-date=15 March 2022}}

| rev8 = Pitchfork

| rev8score = 6.2/10

| rev9 = Slant Magazine

| rev9score = {{Rating|2|5}}

| rev10 = Under the Radar

| rev10score = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web|last=Von Pip|first=Andy|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/californian_soil_london_grammar|title=London Grammar: Californian Soil|work=Under the Radar|date=13 May 2021|access-date=15 March 2022}}

}}

Californian Soil received generally positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalised score out of 100 to ratings from publications, the album received an average score of 77 based on 10 reviews.{{cite web|title=Californian Soil by London Grammar Reviews and Tracks|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/californian-soil/london-grammar|access-date=17 April 2021|website=Metacritic}} Christopher Hamilton-Peach of The Line of Best Fit said that "London Grammar use Californian Soil to hone their lush sonics and embrace the future".{{cite web|last=Hamilton-Peach|first=Christopher|date=16 April 2021|title=London Grammar - Californian Soil {{!}} Album Review|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/london-grammar-californian-soil-album-review|access-date=17 April 2021|website=The Line of Best Fit}} Hannah Mylrea of NME wrote that "London Grammar are revitalised...[they] are more confident, and more fun, than they’ve ever been."

The Guardian{{'s}} Alim Kheraj stated that "the British trio stick to boilerplate emoting and bland imagery, but there are small sonic steps forward".{{cite web|last=Kheraj|first=Alim|date=16 April 2021|title=London Grammar: Californian Soil review – bold sounds amid the usual spectral fare|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/apr/16/london-grammar-californian-soil-review|access-date=17 April 2021|work=The Guardian}} Writing for Pitchfork, Hannah Jocelyn wrote that "the UK electronic-pop trio's third album draws on a renewed sense of extroversion and energy, which can't always overcome its lyrical and production missteps."{{cite web|last=Jocelyn|first=Hannah|title=London Grammar: Californian Soil|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/london-grammar-californian-soil/|date=16 April 2021|access-date=17 April 2021|website=Pitchfork}} Praising the album's surrealist sound and tone, The Daily Telegraph{{'s}} Neil McCormick said that the album was "hypnotically compelling".{{cite news|last=McCormick|first=Neil|author-link=Neil McCormick|date=16 April 2021|title=London Grammar on Californian Soil? Same lush pop, but with a fresh political edge|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/london-grammar-californian-soil-lush-pop-fresh-political-edge/|access-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416114213/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/london-grammar-californian-soil-lush-pop-fresh-political-edge/|archive-date=16 April 2021}} However, Slant Magazine{{'s}} Charles Lyons-Burt felt that "the band's willingness to harness the latest sonic trends is hit and (mostly) miss."{{cite web|last=Lyons-Burt|first=Charles|title=Review: London Grammar's Californian Soil Is Slick, Trendy, and Ultimately Anonymous|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review-london-grammar-californian-soil-is-slick-trendy-and-ultimately-anonymous/|website=Slant Magazine|date=16 April 2021|access-date=17 April 2021}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Californian Soil track listing{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/london-grammar-confirm-new-single-and-album-title-californian-soil-2766413/ |title=London Grammar reveal full details of new album 'Californian Soil' and share title track – listen |work=NME |date=1 October 2020 |access-date=13 January 2021 |last=Krol |first=Charlotte}}

| all_writing = Hannah Reid, Daniel Rothman and Dominic Major, except where noted

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 44:16

| title_width = 25%

| writing_width = 45%

| extra_width = 30%

| title1 = Intro

| extra1 = London Grammar

| length1 = 2:25

| title2 = Californian Soil

| extra2 = {{hlist|London Grammar|Charlie Andrew}}

| length2 = 3:41

| title3 = Missing

| extra3 = London Grammar

| length3 = 3:35

| title4 = Lose Your Head

| writer4 = {{hlist|Reid|Rothman|Major|George FitzGerald}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|London Grammar|FitzGerald}}

| length4 = 3:19

| title5 = Lord It's a Feeling

| extra5 = {{hlist|London Grammar|FitzGerald{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length5 = 4:12

| title6 = How Does It Feel

| writer6 = {{hlist|Reid|Rothman|Major|Steve Mac|Al Shux}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|London Grammar|Mac}}

| length6 = 3:31

| title7 = Baby It's You

| writer7 = {{hlist|Reid|Rothman|Major|FitzGerald}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|London Grammar|FitzGerald}}

| length7 = 4:02

| title8 = Call Your Friends

| writer8 = {{hlist|Reid|Rothman|Major|Mac}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|London Grammar|Mac}}

| length8 = 3:11

| title9 = All My Love

| extra9 = London Grammar

| length9 = 4:32

| title10 = Talking

| extra10 = London Grammar

| length10 = 3:23

| title11 = I Need the Night

| extra11 = London Grammar

| length11 = 4:20

| title12 = America

| extra12 = {{hlist|London Grammar|Andrew}}

| length12 = 4:05

}}

• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies an additional producer

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Californian Soil.{{cite AV media notes |title=Californian Soil |type=liner notes |others=London Grammar |publisher=Metal & Dust |year=2021 |id=MADART3}}

• Hannah Reid – vocals, keys, programming
• Daniel Rothman – guitars, keys, programming
• Dot Major – drums, keys, programming

{{div col}}

• Sally Herbert – string arrangements, conducting {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Olli Cunningham – score supervision
• Everton Nelson – string leader, violin {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Bruce White – viola {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Claire Orsler – viola {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Rachel Robson – viola {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Alison Dods – violin {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Ian Humphries – violin {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Julia Singleton – violin {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Marianne Haynes – violin {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Richard George – violin {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Rick Koster – violin {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Warren Zielinski – violin {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Chris Laurence – double bass {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Chris Dorsey – cello {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Ian Burdge – cello {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Tony Woollard – cello {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Kirsty Mangan – original string arrangements, additional keys {{small|(track 2)}}; viola, violin {{small|(tracks 2, 12)}}; string arrangements {{small|(track 12)}}
• Rachael Lander – cello {{small|(track 2)}}
• Andy Marshall – double bass {{small|(tracks 2, 12)}}
• Vula Malinga – backing vocals {{small|(track 3)}}; additional vocals {{small|(track 5)}}
• Sharlene Hector – backing vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
• Mike Hough – backing vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
• Phebe Edwards – backing vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
• Brendan Reilly – backing vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
• George FitzGerald – additional pads, effects {{small|(tracks 4, 5, 7)}}; additional programming {{small|(track 11)}}
• Hal Ritson – additional guitar {{small|(track 5)}}
• Steve Mac – additional keyboards {{small|(tracks 6, 8)}}
• Chris Laws – additional drums {{small|(tracks 6, 8)}}
• My Riot – additional programming {{small|(track 2)}}
• Hoskins – additional programming {{small|(track 11)}}

{{div col end}}

{{div col}}

• Robbie Nelson – string recording {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11)}}
• London Grammar – production
• Charlie Andrew – production {{small|(tracks 2, 12)}}
• George FitzGerald – production {{small|(tracks 4, 7)}}; additional production {{small|(track 5)}}
• Steve Mac – production {{small|(tracks 6, 8)}}
• My Riot – additional vocal recording {{small|(track 12)}}
• Tom Elmhirst – mixing{{efn|Mixed at Electric Lady Studios (New York City)}} {{small|(tracks 1–5, 8–12)}}
• Matthew Scatchell – engineering for mix {{small|(tracks 8, 10–12)}}
• Nathan Boddy – mixing {{small|(track 7)}}
• Serban Ghenea – mixing{{efn|Mixed at MixStar Studios (Virginia Beach, Virginia)}} {{small|(track 6)}}
• John Hanes – engineering for mix {{small|(track 6)}}
• Matt Wiggins – engineering {{small|(tracks 1–6, 8–12)}}
• Jay Pocknell – engineering {{small|(tracks 2, 12)}}
• Dann Pursey – engineering {{small|(tracks 6, 8)}}
• Chris Laws – engineering {{small|(tracks 6, 8)}}
• Chris Gehringer – mastering{{efn|Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)}}

{{div col end}}

• Crowns & Owls – creative direction, photography
• Catalogue – graphic design

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Californian Soil}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=London Grammar|title=Californian Soil|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2021|certyear=2024|access-date=8 October 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=London Grammar|title=Californian Soil|award=Gold|id=17404-3835-2|type=album|relyear=2021|certyear=2023|access-date=12 February 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{London Grammar}}

Category:2021 albums

Category:Albums produced by Charlie Andrew

Category:Albums produced by George FitzGerald (musician)

Category:Albums recorded at RAK Studios

Category:London Grammar albums

Category:Ministry of Sound albums