yndi halda, having added a sixth member for their latest venture, are currently based across the South-West & South-East of the UK. Resuming the captivating journey of 2016’s album Under Summer, the band continue to diverge from their post-rock origins, developing their unique sound & songwriting style.
Retrospectively, their incredible debut record Enjoy Eternal Bliss will always be a favourite of mine, playing an integral part in shaping my music taste. I consider it a masterpiece, a timeless classic with moments of breathtaking beauty, cementing the band in post-rock lore.
I eagerly awaited the follow-up, arriving in the form of full-length LP Under Summer. The album signalled a distinct change in style, pursuing new themes and adding vocals. I found it difficult to absorb the new sound, craving more of the wonderful post-rock of their first record, but the more I listened, it became clear to me that yndi halda are transcending into something extraordinary.
This curious path is explored further with A Sun-Coloured Shaker, a single 11-minute track that supplements their previous record perfectly. Although ultimately brief, the band allows plenty of time to delve into their re-imagined landscape. The ever-present, ethereal violin segments preserve the record’s mournful tone, roused by blissful guitar & percussion; each ebb and flow meticulous and methodical, soothing moments of sorrow effortlessly. Sharing the same roots, it certainly feels like a part of Under Summer, but needed its own time to evolve, deserved of the room to grow.
The music flows gently like a river; the vocals bleeding in gracefully, often so tranquil as to go unnoticed, adding an entirely different facet to yndi halda. At the core, repeated lyrics “Like a terrible comet coming to Earth, and writing a list of the things you would save first” runs through the track, posing a profound thought; what truly matters to us, as human beings? Maybe it’s our conscious ability to experience this world and enjoy its grandeur. Like the unmistakable beauty of a morning sunrise, our existence is a miracle; one that allows us to feel, enjoy and make waves that truly resonate. The music urges us to reflect on all the wonderful things life holds and breathe in these moments.
“To pull the body up, to know what the head knows, to move in worship of miracle…”
Where Under Summer envelops birth, nature & growth; A Sun-Coloured Shaker embodies life itself, then embraces what comes after. But, there is no darkness at the end of our world, no need for fear or regret; only quiet reflection & catharsis, as the Sun is forever shining brightly.
“A passing through, never shaped, but pure and flowing as a river…”
Coinciding with the band’s upcoming tour of the US & Canada, A Sun-Coloured Shaker is released on 16th February and available to pre-order now through Big Scary Monsters and Burnt Toast Vinyl, with a one-sided, sun-coloured 12” vinyl, including original artwork and unique etching by the band’s collaborative illustrator Hannah Clare.
