The two Yaphet shows I saw back in May were 2 of the best shows I have ever been at. Ever. I don’t think I had ever experienced losing myself at a gig so much, being caught up in the show and engulfed by the power and groove that they conjured up, my body was taken over by the music, an incredible experience. Yaphet played the two songs on this record, at the time they sounded good but didn’t have the impact of the other songs simply because I was unfamiliar with them. But now I get to hear them on record, I recognise them completely, and they ooze with the exact unknown quantity that makes this band so special. The music is slightly more rough than their excellent second album, harking back more to the messier days of “The Killer Was In The Government Blankets” – I think I do prefer this element to their music, it makes it a little more raw, with Mag’s vocals lower in the mix than on the last LP, and I love the less than perfect sound of the recording. “Unusual Suspect” is a typical YK cruncher, it builds and burns with Casey’s powerful screams and Mag’s trademark high-pitched vocals working in tandem, the music loud and emphatic with occasional breakdowns into twinkle parts. The bass and drums pull the song together and provide the body shaking groove which steals my soul. “According to History” is faster and thunders a long at times, with melodic guitars twisting and turning. Things drop out into a beautiful and sombre middle part, before coming together to rumble to a stormy finish at a slower pace.
Well, if you’ve heard YK this 7″ is nothing unexpected. It follows on from their other stuff, and it is heart-stoppingly brilliant. I guess the only surprise about this record is that it is not in silver and black packaging.