the band’s sound is essentially lackadaisical, it’s their “thing”, their core… and as long as you can live with that, you will find that the tracks are charming enough in their own way.
the band’s sound is essentially lackadaisical, it’s their “thing”, their core… and as long as you can live with that, you will find that the tracks are charming enough in their own way.
A good record, if occasionally a bit fey, (actually there’s a lot of precocity here), but then, this lot are from Glasgow and doubtless Stephen Pastel tucks them up in bed at night. The best thing about The Yawns is the fact that it doesn’t seem to be that bothered about not having enough oomph to make a “big noise” or make a big, “look at this” kind of statement. This is very noticeable with the opening few tracks; everything is lax and underpowered, the drums feel like some kind of afterthought (the guitar drives what rhythm there is) and the vocals just wilt in the glare of being there…
And when and there’s a real meat and bone tune to adorn proceedings, (as on Butterfleyes) the record realy clicks and everything comes across as incredibly charming. Otherwise you could be forgiven (if you don;t allow them their muse) in thinking that it’s all a bit like that floppy disc version of Moscow Olympics, albeit without any screeches. We do get a quickening of the pace and tempo in the with Jean Thumb and I Win, and you can see that there’s a bluesy streak to their sound- I Win getting into Catholic Education territory at times. Now and again things get too gauche (Gav’s Memory), but still… the band’s sound is essentially lackadaisical, it’s their “thing”, their core… and as long as you can live with that, you will find that tracks like Do I Lose are charming enough in their own way. What’s more, I Believe in UFOs is a rousing, jaunty instrumental and a good parting shot.
It’s okay, and diverting at times, if pretty horizontal.