YUCK - Stranger Things

Yuck have probably completed their own premature transitional phase, which began very early, right in the wake of their blistering self-titled debut album.

Before conceiving the second act, in fact, the band's leader, Daniel Blumberg, left the fold, replaced on guitar by Edward Hayes and on vocals by the already-present guitarist Max Bloom, who was thus promoted to the role of frontman.

“Glow And Behold” (2013) betrayed, in part, the difficulties of putting the band back together; by contrast, from the very first listens “Stranger Things” comes across as the most complete and focused of the three albums made so far.

The quartet's aesthetic choices (thoroughly English, despite the sounds they favour) remain, in any case, firmly geared towards the skilful reassembly and repackaging, in a contemporary key, of the whole 90s alt-rock imagery.

“Hold Me Closer”, with its distorted vocals and a fine wall of sound, is dense with references to the Smashing Pumpkins of “Siamese Dream”; the following “Cannonball” and “Only Silence” are no exception, steeped to the bone in early Pavement, interspersed with the more reflective, atmospheric “Like A Moth”.

But this Yuck also show a desire to explore new paths, further strengthening the melodic side of things, as happens with the title track, a little indie-rock gem of our times and a great added value for this record.

The final tracks shift the overall climax, making it less overtly nineties and more varied: we move from the ethereal “As I Walk Away” and “Swirling” to the more driving “I’m OK” and “Hearts In Motion”, from the rounded “Down” to the closing “Yr Face”, which shifts register again, falling in line with the best of Besnard Lakes.

Had this come out in the 90s, this engaging mix of college-rock and alt-pop would have driven just about everyone wild, while today it sounds a touch already-heard, not least because Yuck do nothing to hide or update their musical reference points.

Still, credit must be given to these guys: the eleven tracks on “Stranger Things” turn out to be enjoyable and infectious, as well as decidedly well-crafted.

An essential record, at least for anyone who still keeps little shrines to Stephen Malkmus and Billy Corgan on their nightstand.

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01/03/2016