Labels: The Audacious Art Experiment
Review by: Stephen Roe
For those who aren’t familiar with this band (which, as I’m expecting, isn’t many) the JY are an instrumental four piece from Derby made up from members of the Little Explorer, the Removals, and a host of other now-defunct Derby bands that never really progressed passed the ‘seminal’ stage.
This EP consists of five tracks totalling around twenty one minutes and, as a debut, is nye-on perfection. To draw comparisons is difficult, as the Jesus Years’ sound does share numerous affinities with the likes of Ghosts and Vodka, the Six Parts Seven, and perhaps even a more coherent Pele, but I wouldn’t persevere with those comparisons. More noise would be required. Mogwai and EITS could also come into the equation without punches being thrown and eyes watering.
The record itself is delightful. Elegaic guitar riffs complimented by virtuoso drumming that is reminiscent to the beats everyone thinks they are playing when they decide to play the air drums. I often think that standout track ‘I’d wrestle a crab for a cocker’ would suit a film soundtrack, it’s a cinematic ensemble that twinkles and shudders and doesn’t consider the idea of confomity. The production is perhaps a little thin in some areas, as frequently the bass is a mere reverbration rather than the pounding threat that it could be, however, I’m finding myself looking for negativity rather than it finding me.
It’s GREAT for a band to be THIS good, and have them on your doorstep. A delight!