Way back in the late 80’s, the era we’ll call my ‘formative years’, one of my best friends (or best mates if you prefer), was an aspiring bassist. One of the wisest things he ever shared with me about music was this: if and when a band can do time changes well, they are skilled. This little gem of music foo give me the perfect segue into my first review of the new Fall season, on London instrumental rockers, Ye.
Unfortunately, I know next to nothing about Ye, except that I really admire their EP, ‘attune’, which I listened to on their Bandcamp page. I liked it so much, I decided that I needed to have a copy for my ‘mobile music playing device’. I also know that E&D‘s main man is good friends with the Ye guys, so he was not about to write about them. I will, willingly! Write about Ye, that is.
The EP starts off quietly, almost too low to hear, with ‘Cut Out Song’, but don’t turn up the volume too high because you may hurt your ‘drums! Once the band comes out at full volume, you’ll start to understand what I was yammering on about above. The time changes come fast, furious, and tight, showing off their virtuosity. These gentlemen can play, and for me, that makes the music all the more interesting and exciting.
The next track ‘Rat Singer’ continues in the same brooding, semi-dark mood, with a similar sense of mounting sonic drama, but this one comes right out of the gate with heavy rhythms under the strum and feedback of guitars. There is no quiet start on this one, and at about the 1 1/2 minute mark, the notch is kicked up and the jams come out. The length and the build-out in this tune make it my favorite so far (but that’s likely to change before I even finish this review!).
Ye don’t seem to fear jamming well past the five-minute mark; track 3, ‘I’ve Counted The Horsemeat’, benefits from the same storytelling build-build-climax structure that make the first two tracks (indeed, the whole EP) interesting. This track really showcases some fun bass playing at about the halfway mark on, and some nice mood and speed changes as well. I am sort of afraid to ask what the title means, so we’ll leave that one alone.
Wrapping up this solid and exciting EP is ‘Look at That One Go’, a proper Prog-song length epic that continues to build on the first three tracks with more fuzz-and-feedback guitar and ever-heavier drums and bass. There’s a definite upswing, mood-wise, on this parting song, with the minor chord grey clouds opening up a little. I think that my favorite guitar work, reminiscent of DREDG‘s earlier albums, happens throughout the second half of this one, and for me that is yet another good thing! I am not sure what the specific strumming technique is called, but it’s intense and melodic.
As far as vocals, when you have skilled musicians playing interesting and expressive music, music that tells a story to the listener, vocals and lyrics become less important, and even a hindrance or detriment. For me, Ye can’t make another record soon enough, and I hope that they get the recognition for this EP that they deserve. Ideally, that would be a showcase of Ye with the likes of Mogwai, or maybe Red Sparowes.
Find them on Bandcamp and show them some listener love!
Out now on Bandcamp
Echo Rating (((????)))
Posted by Jake
