Yeasayer // Fragrant World

20th August 2012 

Yeasayer – Fragrant World (Mute)

I’m in the car, playing ‘Fragrant World’, trying to make some notes for this review and my dad, ever helpful, thinks “they all sound the same”. As an avid Pink Floyd fan, my dad has some potential, until you quiz him on any facet of musical knowledge that is, so I took his appraisal with a handful of salt. My mum, from where my musical passion was most certainly borne, is bopping along in the back of the car, but that’s her default reaction to most of the records I play; I think she just likes to feel involved. I can kind of see where my dad’s coming from though, as over their three studio releases Yeasayer have definitely travelled on an exponentially poppier path, with ‘Fragrant World’ not only being their most recent, but also their most accessible work. They have taken Darwinian theory and applied it to the music industry; adapting and evolving and each juncture to remain at the head of their field. ‘Fragrant World’ is a record that’s on beat enough to make girls dance, but it’s also interesting enough to grab the attention of the music geeks, and filter out the vapid pop tribe in turn. It’s a bit of slow burner, and has taken me a few listens to really understand, but the record’s so packed with rich harmonies, lush samples and hooks that once you’ve got past that awkward early stage there’s more to discover at every spin.

8/10 – Alex Throssell