Yeti Lane - L'Aurore

  by Lisa Torem

published: 7 / 3 / 2016

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Review

Their influences are striking: the 13th Floor Elevators, the Flaming Lips and Neil Young and also the French scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Hailing from Paris, vocalist/guitarist Cedric Benyoucef and electronic wizard and drummer Charlie Boyer are Yeti Lane. The eight tracks of ‘L’Aurore’, their third album, are this time sung in their native French. It is overall a stunning album, which stretches the boundaries of electronic music, but the concept is also significant. Noting that the last two years represented a “darkness,” the duo translated that disturbing sense into their compositions. The result is a haunting, evocative work of art. Some themes are more expansive and transcendental than others. ‘Delicat’ and ‘Good Word’s Gone’ are peaceful and meditative. ‘Acide Amer’ is much more gyrating, expressed with tightly wound effects and pulsating bass that unravel at times, yet steady the vocals. ‘Liquide’ has an engaging beat and is also transfused with a thrush of sonics. The host of sounds, though, never interferes with Benyoucef’s vocals — that warmth shines through despite the surrounding echo fest. ‘L’Aurore’ holds a fascinating symmetry. The curious rhythms and sound blending are near orchestral. ‘Crystal Sky’ is where the rock sensibility kicks in. ‘Exquis’ showcases a high-pitched, bluesy guitar, which blends dynamically with vocals but other mellifluous sounds stand on their own, creating a distinctive parallel. The sound bytes of ‘Ne Dis Rien’ seem to pour out of all dimensions. Some mirror the lead vocals and others, as in earlier song, maintain their resilience, yet contribute richly to the entire piece. Their recording ethos is a positive one: “We had a lot of fun improvising, which opened us to new playgrounds,” says Boyer about the process they used in the studio to create their constantly shifting original compositions. “We wanted to keep the excitement of the moment, with no routine,” adds Benyoucef. Yeti Lane are familiar faces at BBC 6 Music Sessions and at the Liverpool Psych Fest. They have worked with The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Damo Suzuki. Their sound is certainly a unique one and ‘L’Aurore’ proves that in spades.

Track Listing:-

1 Délicat
2 Good Word's Gone
3 Acide amer
4 Liquide
5 L'aurore
6 Crystal Sky
7 Exquis
8 Ne dis rien

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/YETI-LANE-387
https://twitter.com/yetilanemusic

Label Links:-

http://www.soniccathedral.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/soniccathedra
https://twitter.com/soniccathedral
https://www.youtube.com/user/https%3A/