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“Who among you is a fan of our previous work?” poses Yard Act’s lead singer James Smith to the audience, a question that seems to reflect his own thoughts lately. To add some excitement to the show, they bring a lucky audience member on stage to spin a wheel, which will determine the song they will play from their debut EP “Dark Days” released in 2021. The wheel lands on the title track and the band enthusiastically delivers their signature edgy post-punk sound, which helped them gain popularity during lockdown.
After three years, the band seems to feel confined by their previous style of music, which they intentionally created to escape the post-punk scene at the end of the 1980s. They have now returned with a more electronic rock sound, incorporating synthesizers, saxophones, and new backup vocalists. Their basslines are reminiscent of those used by the band ESG. In their new tracks, like “When the Laughter Stops,” they explore territory similar to LCD Soundsystem, utilizing pulsing beats and rhythmic patterns to create locked-in grooves. “Dream Job,” on the other hand, takes inspiration from Ian Dury, with a disco-esque stomp that has elements of pub-rock.
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Shane Embury from Napalm Death joins them on stage to cover Motörhead’s Ace of Spades, resulting in a wildly entertaining performance despite the unexpected pairing. However, their enthusiasm seems to wane when playing older songs, with Payday sounding lackluster and lacking the energy and impact of their newer material. Despite this, their debut album’s track 100% Endurance still captivates as it concludes with a burst of disharmonious melodies.
Right now Yard Act sound like a band wrestling with who they are. Propelled by a zeitgeist that unexpectedly blew up, they’re now asking: what do we actually want to be? A clear-cut and solid identity may still be being forged, but in the meantime they sound like they’re having fun as they move further away from their dark days and forward into the light.
Source: theguardian.com
