Review: Yeasayer – ‘Odd Blood’

9/10

Odd Blood is the logical extension of Yeasayer’s 2007 debut All Hour Cymbals except with less filler and more mind-blowing experimentalism.

From the off it’s best to view the album as more of a streamlined piece of art than a bunch of separate tunes thrown together for the heck of it; sort of like a concept album if you will.

So cut the waffling, what does it sound like? You know that feeling you had when you first heard Merriweather Post Pavilion? Like there was nothing else around that sounded like this and as soon as you’d finished listening to it you wanted to hear the album again NOW! Well it sounds exactly like that feeling.

Think of the swirling and dense synths of psychedelic electro-pop mixed with the careful use of programmed beats and keyboards, funky bass and well-placed sampling, clattering percussion and brass, great gospel harmonies and even lyrics that are relatable. Add to that slick production and two singers with individuality and sass, and the record becomes a truly explosive sonic experience.

Some might recognise lead singer Chris Keating’s vocal stylings from inspired SMD single ‘Audacity of Huge’ but here they can expect more of a galvanized and distinctive performance. A particular Keating highlight includes first single ‘Ambling Alp’ in which he gives an invigorating vocal delivery over cascading drums and catchy synths that make you wanna jump around the bedroom like an over-zealous teenager every time it comes on. Addictively excellent.

‘Love Me Girl’ ‘The Children’ and ‘I Remember’ effortlessly blur the boundaries between indie, electronica, mania and ambient music, with strictly kaleidoscopic results.

Also of note is ‘Madder Red’ with its exotic and foreign sounding vocals and mysterious lyrics jumbled up with distorted guitars, building to a truly spine-tingling crescendo.

I have to admit a fondness for Anand Wilder’s vocals particularly on the songs ‘Strange Reunions’ and ‘O.N.E.’. In fact his performance on ‘O.N.E.’ makes me want to marry him (fancy it Anand?) and it is probably the best track on the album due to its artful use of the ubiquitous catchy chorus. ‘O.N.E.’ also has the perfect blend of danceable indie and hallucinatory trippy-ness to send you spiralling out of this world (I am currently somewhere between the earth and the moon, suspended in a state of bliss). Actually, this track makes me want to marry the entire band (fancy it Yeasayer?).

There are a couple of songs I’m not particularly keen on though: ‘Rome’ and ‘Mondegreen’ are a little too Broadway-on-acid for my tastes.

However, I profess an obsessive and unrepentant addiction to Odd Blood. I’m totally captivated by this album. It’s weird, inspired and escapist yet still predominantly accessible. Well done Yeasayer, well done indeed!

Yeasayer – ‘O.N.E’: