Yesan Damen - Chronos/Kairos

  by Adrian Huggins

published: 28 / 1 / 2008

Label: New Wine Records
Format: CD

intro

Optimistic sounding indie pop on second album from Seattle-based band Yesen Damen, which draws comparisons with the likes of Belle and Sebastian and Stars

Ah, the new year, and what has it brought us ? Well, the start of what may be a good one for music by the sounds of this little album. Yesan Damen are a Seattle based indie band with a mellow touch, and beautiful and cheery melodies and optimistic sounding vocals. Yesan Damen have been compared to the likes of Belle and Sebastian and Stars, and I for one was keen to see what they had to offer. It was as you’d expect but with a lot to recommend it. With contributions from various other American indie names such as Jen Wood from the fantastic Postal Service and John Wu from Riding Paper Airplanes they are clearly part of tan ever present and developing scene. This is a scene with bands like Sufjan Stevens, the Shins, Death Cab for Cutie and the Postal Service, who seems to constantly knock out quality songs and albums with that feel good poppy factor. The thing that links Yesan Damen to these other bands is that their songs all have that pop element also but they also invest it with enough personality and quirkiness to make sure that is not just throw away pop music. The first song, ‘Whoa!’ is certainly my favourite song of the whole album. While not wanting to do an injustice to the rest of the songs, it really sticks out just that bit above the rest with a piano led tune that is instantly upliftin the choir like backing vocals. This is one tune that will really stick out for people on the first listen and is clearly a song that could be a single. The final song, ‘Canons of Devotion’, is another stand out song. It not as cheery sounding as the previously mentioned tune, but provides a strong impression of the band and their whole range. You could imagine most of these songs, especially like the more upbeat and guitar driven song ‘Outer Space’, and the far more emotional and thoughtful ‘Hang On for Dear Life’, on any number of American independent films. It has that autumnal and deep feel to it that just warms you up so well.

Track Listing:-