Highlights: Ohm, It’s Not Enough, Well You Better, The Point Of
It
It’s rather fascinating
to realise that Yo La Tengo have been this quiet, but important and intriguing
force in indie pop music for two decades now (technically, though, it will soon
be three; while I’m not really dismissing their first few albums, it all really
started to click with Painful). Since
1993 they have released a string of slow-burning, long-winded albums that were
either inspired (and pretty) or, frankly, rather boring (yet pretty). Mostly both.
And I’d say that Fade fits in nicely with their best
efforts. This time it is not just about laidback, self-consciously pretty grooves
that are okay while they last but do not leave that much of an impression
afterwards. Fade is about songs and,
dare I say it, songs that can turn out to be quite catchy on occasion. The
opening “Ohm” is a noisy and effective 7-minute singalong that, in essence, is
your ultimate Yo La Tengo experience. However, I was particularly impressed
with the three songs that follow – all three prove yet again that Yo La Tengo
can pen a great little pop gem if they feel like it.
As ever, they try
different things, from sunshine pop to shoegaze to dream pop to country, but it’s
not like Fade is a very diverse
record. It never feels that way: the sound is all soaked through with the old
lazy summer vibes Yo La Tengo can do so well. Whether it’s garagey guitars or
sweeping orchestration or just plain, good old strumming.
Granted, at some points Fade could bore one to tears, but that’s
if you don’t pay attention. In a way, it really is as sharp and articulate as
these guys get. Overall, this is sweet sweet music to immerse yourself into
when the mood is right. Great stuff.
8/10
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