After listening to w h o k i l l, tUnE-YaRdS’ phenomenal new album, go back and listen to Merrill Garbus’ debut Bird-Brains. It’s rough, shoddily-produced, abrasive and full of ideas. By virtue of the way it was recorded and released – on a handheld voice recorder and second-hand cassettes (the album was ultimately remastered), it sounds better than it has any right to be but it’s still more of an interesting experimental lo-fi record than one to fall in love with.
By contrast, w h o k i l l is a pop record. Of sorts. Effortlessly carried by Garbus’ voice which loops, shouts, yodels harmonises, croons, skitters and creaks in all the right places. Meanwhile, the instrumentation is pristine and visible with playful rhythms. Garbus’ songwriting is top-notch. Her time in Kenya studying music comes across in the Afrobeat melodies and the employment of jazzy horns (oh er missus) and high-fretted stunted guitar riffs along with her trusted ukelele. The percussion is bright and primal. And the songs are fucking magnificent. All 10 of them. Best of all, it still sounds absolutely bonkers.
Three favourites for detail: ‘Gangsta’ is possibly the most unhinged song on the album. Clattering drums, distorted bass envelopes the song, brass parps interject. Garbus impersonates an ambulance. No joke. ‘Bizness’ is the album’s most complete pop song – a endlessly repeatable tune. When the brass comes along for the ride at 2:26 and again at 3:40, it’s pure bliss. ‘Doorstep’ – a mama blues mantra which builds with flittering harmonies and loud drums into a swirling elegant end.
w h o k i l l is a whooping and hollering joy. eXceLlEnT.
w h o k i l l is out now on 4D. Listen to it for a limited time. tUnE-YaRdS plays Whelan’s, Dublin on June 17th. Tickets are €16 plus fees.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
Really love this album
Is this ‘album of the week’ gonna be a regular thing or just a snazzy title – sweet idea if the former
It’s the first in a new weekly feature. I want to represent my listening habits a bit more and the album feature will allow me to do that. Cheers.