Yo La Tengo - Fade

by Maarten Schiethart

published: 2 / 2 / 2013

Label: Matador Records
Format: CD

intro

Playful and versatile thirteenth album and first release in four years from acclaimed New Jersey-based trio, Yo La Tengo

Old enough to have had the grandchildren over for the Christmas holidays, , Yo La Tengo decide against ageing on 'Fade'. After the workout of 'Ohm', a rehearsal track that kickstarts 'Fade', 'Is That Enough?' puts the trio in the company of a small chamber orchestra. This little surplus in sound carries some of the other tracks on 'Fade' to greater heights. 'Well You Better' brings back the tambourine in ditty lullaby style. Confused perhaps by Velvet Underground melancholy, the first moments of genuine excitement on 'Fade' come from the Peter Hook bass riff dependent track 'Paddle Forward' and from then on, by the hand of Dio, Yo La Tengo do away with that dizzy, quasi Americana. Georgia Hubley finally joins in the singing on 'Stupid Things'. Challenging the memory of John Fahey and Leo Kottke alike, on 'I'll Be Around', whilst veering towards wilful songwriting euthanasia, 'Fade' bodes a farewell to the expectations, once raised by 'Fakebook'. 'Cornelia and Jane' provides the next fine moment of melodic loveliness when Hubley takes the lead on the microphone. Ira Kaplan shows a touch of his gentle, perhaps feminine side on the tender folk pop songs 'Two Trains' and 'The Point of It', though this paves the way, to fade to his better half with Hubley's firmly sung 'Before We Run'. The general tone is an eerie and a very slow one nonetheless. Catchy from the "too too too" chorus of the opening track, 'Fade' brings back Yo La Tengo in fine form.

Track Listing:-

1 Ohm
2 Is That Enough
3 Well You Better
4 Paddle Forward
5 Stupid Things
6 I'll Be Around
7 Cornelia and Jane
8 Two Trains
9 The Point Of It
10 Before We Run

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/TheRealYLT
http://yolatengo.com/
https://twitter.com/therealylt
http://therealylt.tumblr.com/

Label Links:-

http://www.matadorrecords.com/
https://twitter.com/matadorrecords
https://www.facebook.com/MatadorRecords
http://matadorrecords.tumblr.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/matadorrecs
https://www.instagram.com/matadorrecords/

interviews

Interview (2009)

One of the most innovative bands of the last 25 years, Yo La Tengo have just released their latest new album, 'Popular Songs'. Mark Rowland speaks to the band's front man Ira Kaplan about it and adaptable and constantly changing nature of his band

live reviews

Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, 15/6/2009

Ben Howarth enjoys a rare stripped down and acoustic set of music from much acclaimed American group Yo La Tengo at a Meltdown Festival gig at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London

Koko, London, 15/8/2005