y97 - "Demo Tapes" EP
y97 - “Demo Tapes” EP
photo from Skylar’s instagram page - @skywhyguy
Sometimes the best remedy for a bad mood is to find a friend who feels just as down and stew in it together. Such is the dark healing experience of listening to Y97’s new EP, simply titled “Demo Tapes.” You can hear it via streaming on Spotify alongside two singles, “Waving Fields” and “So Much Time.” These latest songs helmed by our friend Skyler Cowdry (bassist of Chase the Horseman, playing all the instruments here save for one drum track) set lyrical themes of social anxiety and romantic nostalgia to ruminate in chaotic guitars and lush synthesizers, setting a comforting - if despondent - mood fit for the long nights at the end of a long year.
The opener “Sayings'' features lo-fi drums and long-echoing electric guitar that sounds like a lost track from one of the Cure’s early Peel sessions. Self induced paranoia and anxious speculation push the protagonist’s frustration to a boiling point that launches the strongest vocal hook of the record. We’re staring at the ceiling in the middle of the night, and there’s no stopping tomorrow’s arrival.
If you’ve ever spent those wee hours wondering about the alternate universe where the Killers were an undiscovered MySpace band, look no further than “So We Don’t Feel Alone” for the soundtrack to your fantasy. A deliciously gooey blend of synth and guitar over double timed electronic drums make for a candy sweet sonic experience, especially on headphones. The opening lyrics paint a picture of bloodless-white knuckles desperately holding onto something before it fades away, but before we can find out what it is, the guitars come storming in (rather gorgeously) and wash the vocals away in the mix. The bits and pieces of lyrics that we can decipher through the rest of the song effectively invoke a sentimental, romantic feeling. At one point the phrase “time after time” rings out before a section change, and I can’t help but think of the Cindy Lauper hit. It’s an easy connection to make - this song achieves a similar unrequited young love pathos with an 80’s pop sheen. It also features an impressive leap into Cowdry’s higher vocal range in the chorus - an exciting contrast to the moody baritone delivery of the previous track.
Y97 saves the most effective and emotional guitar work for last. “I Tried” swims in the deep end of the feedback pool, but the groove and structure of the song persist with clear intentions. The song, like the entire EP, draws us into a somber and introspective place, and the sonic landscape doesn’t shy away from embracing the murkiness and messiness that comes with the territory. Sometimes the details are lost in the flood, as is the nature of demos, but the epic scale and gothic textures scratch a very itchy itch and promise more great things to come.
LISTEN NOW.
Review by ::
Fritz Hutchison
Manor Blog Contributor
Manor Records gives 100% of the article author rights to Fritz Hutchison.