Yeasayer — Fragrant World
Mute CDSTUMM346
With their second album, 2010’s Odd Blood, Brooklyn’s Yeasayer rose from cerebral synth band loved by bloggers to cerebral synth band with huge pop hooks and dancefloor-friendly beats loved by bloggers, clubbers and festival-goers. Recent converts may be disappointed to discover that much of Fragrant World returns Yeasayer to the more ambient territory of their debut, although long-time fans won’t be surprised that these achingly serious, meticulous music-makers have shunned a shot at chart success. Persevere with these 11 songs, however, and both camps should conclude that the geeks have struck gold again. The first half of the brilliantly bonkers Henrietta features glitchy funk and what sounds like a xylophone being played underwater; the second is a seemingly different
Pop, Rock & Jazz, August 12
Yeasayer return to the ambient sound of their debut with Fragrant World; plus, Jessie Ware, Karima Francis and Spector