This is the third album from the self-styled ‘eccentric weird folk electro-kraut-melodic indie’ foursome Like A Stuntman. Mixing tweaked guitar, rhythmic, pacing bass, twinkling glass-like keys, and great washes of synth sounds, YOY’s beauty is that it both has its feet on the ground and its head in the clouds.
The album is made up of carefully constructed layers, building each new sound loop onto the last before stripping them away to reveal the character of each individual part. More floating than flying, there is never really a crescendo. Instead each instrument or sound lies lightly on top of the others, the songs defined by what is removed and when rather than lifting to a peak.
This careful, delicate music is in huge contrast with the vocals, which often seem to come out of nowhere and often miss the mark. On ‘Yesterday Euphoria’ especially they sound goofy and too blunt, trampling over the other components. In other songs, such as ‘Dog Show Digest’, they are breathier and softer, and it is clear that the vocals could be excellent, but in execution it is often too jolting to be pleasant.
‘Sport’, the only instrumental track, is a highlight. Chirping birds, rippling guitar, and swooshing watery effects give it a fresh, natural feel, beautifully offset by interrupting between-stations radio interference and skipping broken record-like percussion. Though found in the middle of the record, this would have been an enigmatic opening track. This is a theme of the entire album, in fact – some reorganisation could help it to flow better.
Their catchiest song is ‘Ooze Yeah Ooze’. With glittery synth, a smooth breakdown, and a sense of momentum, it is a more robust effort akin to Lemon Jelly. The last track on the record, ‘Sentimental Education’, is also notable for its uplifting, very quirky guitar and its bass beat. A real sunny-day song and a great way to end an album.
Some very good songs, and some excellent ideas, but there is nothing especially memorable here. YOY makes for a pleasant background listen, but the jarring vocal prevents it from being as smooth and professional-sounding as perhaps it ought to be.
- Romay - 1 January 2012
- Is Tropical - 22 November 2011
- Like a Stuntman - 20 November 2011