Yeasayer – ‘All Hour Cymbals’ (album review)
This album is a tough one to pass comment on. It’s a record drenched in such delightful ambiguity, I worry that delivering a critique at such an early stage in my listening of this record would be unjust. This is an album that must be played over and over to truly come to terms with the depth of invention present. Furthermore, offering any reference of similarity to other artists, contemporary or otherwise would perhaps be to the detriment of their unique artistic integrity.
Nevertheless, I shall persevere…
Yeasayer develop their sound by borrowing from a rich pool of genres as diverse as Progressive Rock, Afrobeat, Soul, Psychedelica and Gregorian Chant and recontextualising them in a dark, haunting cornucopia. The inclusion of synthesizers, samplers and intricately woven vocal harmonies combines to create a truly mesmerising and uplifting experience. In the wrong hands this ridiculous cocktail of influences could sound desperately over-produced but gladly this album never threatens to descend into the pastiche. Each song is delicately crafted and each layer develops in such a way as to not detract from its soothing sense of mystique.
Lead single ‘2080’ typifies this notion: hypnotic vocals soar gracefully throughout verse and chorus over a persistent back-beat and melodious bass line before making way for a rousing gang chant in the breakdown. This complex combination is cemented by sublime acoustic guitar accompaniment, piano arpeggio and a clarinet counter melody. ‘No Need to Worry’ consists of a vocal arrangement that continuously fluctuates somewhere between The Beach Boys, The Beatles and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, with intermittent, trumpet-accompanied mini crescendos that peak and spiral away with playful abandon. My favourite song, ‘Germs’ is both elegant and destructive with delectable wind instruments providing the main refrain beneath alluring vocal harmonies that develop with progressive force and intimidating vigour. Dissecting this album any further in this manner would probably spoil it for anyone reading this, but needless to say, this record is deep and there are treasures to be uncovered throughout.
Certain aesthetic practices and production techniques invite tentative comparisons with artists such as Pink Floyd, Tears For Fears and The Doors. Furthermore, elements of more modern acts such as Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Interpol and Sigur Ros can be found within. That’s not say that Yeasayer sound anything like these bands but they certainly adopt similar philosophies regarding composition and arrangement.
For me, this album is liberating, mystifying, over-whelming and as such, deeply satisfying. Its enormity might prove a little too much for audiences seeking the instant rewards of the Radio 1 playlist, but certainly this is a superbly realised and accomplished record.
Yeasayer, although anything but contemporary, are instantly accessible. In fact, given the scope of influences on display here, if one allows themselves to disregards modern principles for a moment, ‘All Hour Cymbals’ could be seen as a wonderful re-imagining of a conventional pop record.
By Phil Hodgetts
Release Date: 24/3/08
Label: We Are Free
www.myspace.com/yeasayer
Click the button to download the mp3 from iTunes:
Click here to read more Yeasayer related articles
Buy Yeasayer CDs & Vinyl
Buy Yeasayer MP3s
Buy Yeasayer Tickets
Bookmark and share this page with:Nevertheless, I shall persevere…
Yeasayer develop their sound by borrowing from a rich pool of genres as diverse as Progressive Rock, Afrobeat, Soul, Psychedelica and Gregorian Chant and recontextualising them in a dark, haunting cornucopia. The inclusion of synthesizers, samplers and intricately woven vocal harmonies combines to create a truly mesmerising and uplifting experience. In the wrong hands this ridiculous cocktail of influences could sound desperately over-produced but gladly this album never threatens to descend into the pastiche. Each song is delicately crafted and each layer develops in such a way as to not detract from its soothing sense of mystique.
Lead single ‘2080’ typifies this notion: hypnotic vocals soar gracefully throughout verse and chorus over a persistent back-beat and melodious bass line before making way for a rousing gang chant in the breakdown. This complex combination is cemented by sublime acoustic guitar accompaniment, piano arpeggio and a clarinet counter melody. ‘No Need to Worry’ consists of a vocal arrangement that continuously fluctuates somewhere between The Beach Boys, The Beatles and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, with intermittent, trumpet-accompanied mini crescendos that peak and spiral away with playful abandon. My favourite song, ‘Germs’ is both elegant and destructive with delectable wind instruments providing the main refrain beneath alluring vocal harmonies that develop with progressive force and intimidating vigour. Dissecting this album any further in this manner would probably spoil it for anyone reading this, but needless to say, this record is deep and there are treasures to be uncovered throughout.
Certain aesthetic practices and production techniques invite tentative comparisons with artists such as Pink Floyd, Tears For Fears and The Doors. Furthermore, elements of more modern acts such as Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Interpol and Sigur Ros can be found within. That’s not say that Yeasayer sound anything like these bands but they certainly adopt similar philosophies regarding composition and arrangement.
For me, this album is liberating, mystifying, over-whelming and as such, deeply satisfying. Its enormity might prove a little too much for audiences seeking the instant rewards of the Radio 1 playlist, but certainly this is a superbly realised and accomplished record.
Yeasayer, although anything but contemporary, are instantly accessible. In fact, given the scope of influences on display here, if one allows themselves to disregards modern principles for a moment, ‘All Hour Cymbals’ could be seen as a wonderful re-imagining of a conventional pop record.
By Phil Hodgetts
Release Date: 24/3/08
Label: We Are Free
www.myspace.com/yeasayer
Click the button to download the mp3 from iTunes:
Click here to read more Yeasayer related articles
Buy Yeasayer CDs & Vinyl
Buy Yeasayer MP3s
Buy Yeasayer Tickets
