Review of ‘You’re Gonna Need A Little Music’, the new release from Yard Act

With their second album, those from Leeds opted for intensive production work to achieve a more sophisticated and colorful sound that moved them away from the angular black and white sobriety of their debut. The price of this ambition, perhaps necessary to distance themselves from the post-punk revival that surrounded them, is that they lost focus a bit.

In this third album they feel like a rock group again – in fact, they have all recorded together. It is more than likely that this return to the essence of group dynamics has had something to do with their endless tour of the stages, where they have been perfecting a live performance that is as effective and organic as it is fun. The quartet has earned itself as one of those groups that you should not miss at a festival (or in a venue). Taking advantage of this background, in this third release they combine rock vitalism in the style of the original Arctic Monkeys with sophisticated details that take us back to their second work.

In fact, the spirit of Yard Act has always been closer to Prince than to Joy Division, but what they pursued in the studio on their second album, they pursue here as a rock quartet, modulating the tone of each song in an album of contrasts that flows perfectly. From the chorus of “Cherophobe Rock” at the bottom of “Thrill of the Chase” and the Alex Turner-esque vocal ramblings, the heavy riff of “Redeemer” or the games of “Fiction”, The English waste resources even when they get light (“Talky Talky People”).

Whether they become dark, dense, reflective or openly festive in the face of the big stages they begin to frequent (with the title song of the album), the British’s music shows off the stories woven together with grace and rhythmic talent by vocalist Smith. It could be seen as a gentle version of Sleaford Mods’ sharp but often depressing costumbrismo. Smith’s at once tender and sarcastic look, and his own way of phrasing, shines in an LP stripped of clear singles – with the exception of the cut that baptizes the album – but which seems to grow with listening, since the songs, so different, complement each other. The merit of Yard Act It’s that they have found their own path, a path that celebrates life instead of abounding in misery, like so many others.