YELLOW SWANS - GOING PLACES on 'Type'

08 FEBRUARY 2010

Written by ALAN WILLIAMS

Yellow Swans - GOING PLACES on 'Type'                

American experimental electronic noise band Yellow Swans return with what is supposedly their final studio album. Yellow Swans create subtle yet somehow harsh electronic soundscapes that merge a bit of that frenzied punk energy with a lonesome sound of early ambient noise. Constant touring in the early 2000s brought the group a small but strong fan base and apparently opened the door to the world of noise experimentalists. As a duo, Yellow Swans’ sound seems more rooted somewhere in Noise/Post rock more than abstract electronic walls of sound. However, Yellow Swans have a unique ability to improvise and relay torrents of high frequency feedback in a subtle way which will calm you more than distort you. Whereas most industrial noise bands have an abrasive and mind numbing buzz Yellow Swans release a slow, sombre and almost meditative quality to their fuzzy lush soundscapes.

However in 2008 the duo broke and the split was met with shock from hardcore fans all over, fans who have painstakingly sought limited edition CDr's, cassettes and vinyl. For me, it was no shock at all, simply because I’ve never heard of them before and it is now 2010.

A little late perhaps? Or never too late? Either way I’m listening now and enjoying now and will do for years to come I’m sure. So this new record; ‘Going Places’ supposedly their final studio album to be recorded and released; The album was recorded in the downtime following constant touring, and it displays a more concise approach when compared with the earlier improvised viciousness they project at your little sore ears. Gloomy ridden drone soundscapes; yep, that’s what they sound like, that’s what I get from it; and from what I’ve heard most of their stuff is Gloom ridden droney soundscapes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. In a way I’d say it sounds like something between Throbbing Gristle and Wolfeyes but with a mellow approach.

Yellow Swans                

Despite the amount of industrial noisy landscapey stuff that knocks about these days this record really sticks out for me, as you listen, the whole thing moves deeper into a vicious world of electronic mastery. The duo are well-known for their improvisational approach to music, often creating unique experiences for audiences at each live performance and this record, doesn’t really differ. Unique sonic structures support the background noises’ noises that you think you know but can’t quite recognise, people talking, animal’s squawking etc. The epic "Sovereign" is probably one of the best songs on the album; on it they slowly build to a never ending.... end; continually ‘feed backing’, layering and adding to the track until the distortion has completely swallowed you under and you’ve forgotten where you are. Elsewhere, the album sounds like you’re stuck in a metal barrel in some kind of ominous jungle; you know you’re safe in your barrel, but you know there’s a whole load of stuff just outside it.

Stretched out guitar lines scream out melodic visions that in many ways send you into hypnotic daydreams. I’ve said this before about industrial noisy stuff, It's easy to respect the sort of things they do/make, the whole creative process, but it's not quite as easy to listen to the music whenever, wherever. You will have to be in a distinct mood to be able to give this a full listen; given the right mood you could easily sail through this record yearning for more...
If you like things like Sun 0)), Wolfeyes, Labradford, GAS and stuff like that then you’re bound to like this. The band them self describe their music as "a constantly evolving mass of psychedelic noise that is both physically arresting and psychically liberating”.

I’m Inclined to agree.

Yellow Swans on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/yellowswans