Jordan_229_2

great review

loved The Consultancy

Eighty One, the third full-length by Jose Luis Corrales Jr under the Yppah moniker, is another step forward for an artist who gives no consideration to boundaries. From the loop-based IDM of his debút, 2009's sophomore 'They Know What Ghost Know' brought in strains of hip-hop, psychadelica and shoegaze and was possessed with an unbridled spirit of invention. Eighty One is where everything falls into place for Yppah; where each of these elements fit to produce a coherent sound he can truly call his own.

It is one that whilst not possessing the harsher moments of its predecessor is much more developed and richer. You get the impression that Jose has spent considerable time honing his craft not just as a musician but as a producer, in balancing his diverse portfolio of instrumentation and ideas in a manner that doesn't sound merely like an audiophile trying to give nods to each of his influences.

The first couplet of tracks with American vocalist and fellow multi-instrumentalist Anomie Belle, “D. Song” and “Film Burn”, are prime examples of this. Both set platforms for Belle's lulling vocals with a blend of woozy synth lines that marry up to strands of acoustic guitar and strings underneath a cultured range of percussion that makes full use of bass and sub-bass. Further, 'R. Mullen' is a dreamy combination of post-rock and uplifting electro that will appease any M83 fan, and 'Paper Knife' is a barrage of runaway floor tom rolls that take with it Morricone-esque fragments of ambience, re-imagining Godspeed You! Black Emperor's 'East Hastings' for a neon dance floor.

Yppah's composition of these elements (and more) as at times very similar to the controlled euphoria of Blue Sky Black Death's 'Noir', yet it is fellow Ninja Tune stablemate Daedelus who is the closest comparison, at least insofar as the effortless sonic shifts that both are capable of is concerned, and their expertise in creating cohesion from what would in the hands of most be a clusterfuck.

There is little within Eighty One worthy of criticism, but there is also a sense that Yppah is still far from hitting his peak. If his next step forward is as bold, brave and brilliant as his last then Corrales will have created a landmark classic. Still, as it stands he has created one of 2012's brightest and most inventive albums to date.

didn't know that about Kappa Gamma either. really happy for them.

not sure about Mogwai, but they'd have had to have been VERY on the ball for those songs to have 'foreshadowed' the early work of both bands.

tempted to check this out now

when i reviewed the shearwater album ( http://www.contactmusic.com/album-review/shearwater-animal-joy ) i ended up talking more about him than the band. phenomenal percussionist.

good to see you writing again Tudor. not sure i agree with your comments about Swans foreshadowing GYBE and Mogwai, or completely agree with the score, but i very much enjoyed reading this. wonderful.

think i'll head down for that. DiS meat ahoy?

where will you be seeing Swans? i suggest earphones, for sure.

one of my albums of the year so far

the label owner is a true gent. his own music is ace too;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAIwaOF80HQ

indietracks is fantastic however, i'll allow it for a weekend.

fragile is very....radiohead isn't it?

i like it though, think i'll like it more after a few more listens too.

(as Tindersticks have disowned the city)

i mean, this review has gotten more of a response out of me than the album, but still...

already twice as good as last years.

didnt know you were going, gaz.

great photos as ever!

http://www.contactmusic.com/album-review/nils-frahm-felt

here you go. i prefer your review, but they're both pretty great to be honest.

i reviewed this album last night and my review is almost a mirror of this un, including the score.

what a great album this is.

needs more a winged victory for the sullen BAM:
http://www.contactmusic.com/album-review/a-winged-victory-for-the-sullen-a-winged-victory-for-the-sullen

needs more kashiwa daisuke BAM:
http://www.contactmusic.com/album-review/kashiwa-daisuke-88

other than that; great article!

as he said, britpop was hardly the 'in' genre when they got together. i've no trouble believing that he's gotten into music a couple years later than most and gone through those tastes. Between the ages of 16-19 i was in a band that sounded like Incubus, then Tool then a pretty bland post-rock outfit. my tastes just changed.

and much of what he says is extremely honest and makes a lot of sense. its good to see a band like this to get their say.

i didnt see any such allusions in your Raging Speedhorn review.

im a fan of origamibiro. didnt know he had any ties to notts