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Allan Raible writes about music and the music industry. He is based in New York.
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Review: Andy Yorke’s “Simple”
September 23, 2008 11:11 AM
In England, Andy Yorke is best known as the former lead singer of the band The Unbelievable Truth. That band never made very much of a splash in the U.S., so here he is best known for being the younger brother of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke.
Musically, the two Yorke brothers share a similar voice and an ability to churn out indelible tunes, but that’s about it. Andy comes off as a more mainstreamed, less cryptic answer to Thom. With Radiohead, Thom has consistently broken new sonic ground and led one of the best and most innovative bands of our time. On his solo debut, Andy Yorke shows that he’s a reliable, top-notch adult-alternative singer-songwriter. He’s not out to change the world. He only wants to write a strong batch of songs and he definitely succeeds.
“Simple” actually came out in this country in July, but it seems to only be available as a download from stores like iTunes and Amazon. (If you want a hard-copy, it looks like you have to settle for an expensive import.) Why it didn’t get a full-scale release here is unknown, but it’s an appealing album with shockingly little buzz. Not enough people know it exists and that’s a shame.
The album starts off with the title track. Fittingly true to its name, the song is a very straightforward acoustic guitar number. Yorke’s vaguely familiar voice repeats the lines, “You know that it’s simple, ” “I want it to confound me” and “You were right.” One is reminded of Thom’s work on Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place.” Perhaps these are Andy’s responses to Thom’s lines like, “Yesterday I woke up sucking a lemon.” The difference lies in the soundscape. Whereas that song has a sparse, electronic vibe, this one is strikingly natural sounding, even containing some nice work from a string section.
Next, Andy shows us some more detail and melody in the hit-worthy “Found the Road.” He soars in this swaying acoustic guitar number, singing, “You drew a map made just for me and I never found the road.” Here, he has gentleness that is reminiscent of Crowded House’s Neil Finn. The song has a momentary piano solo and rises and falls in a cycle quite nicely. It’s essentially a highly anthemic waltz.
“Twist of the Knife” is a string-assisted, vaguely folk-driven number. Its refrain shows it to perhaps be a breakup song. “Here’s to our former life. Twist of the knife.” There’s tragic beauty in Yorke’s delivery and the track itself seems painstakingly honed, yet deceptively effortless.
“Rise and Fall,” like the title track, firmly puts its name into action. Beginning with a memorable piano part, it then picks up and takes off during its chorus. The verses have a low-key reflective vibe, while the chorus contains louder handclaps and harder acoustic guitar strumming. During the verses, Yorke possesses a vocal tone that will definitely bring to mind that of his famous brother, but Thom hasn’t attempted a song this accessible since “Pablo Honey.”
“Diamant” has a somber, hauntingly repetitive quality. The acoustic guitar-line goes in circles as Yorke alternates a strong vocal bellow and a gentle falsetto. The strings return for dramatic effect. It’s as striking as it is sad.
The mood picks up a little for “One in a Million,” even though the song still has a bit of a downtrodden tinge to it. The track, though still acoustic, rocks a little more and has a similar sway to “Found the Road.” It too would make a strong single with its dynamically soaring melody. “Heard a lot about the signs, never to see them. / Do I seize it now or let go my one in a million chance?” This song would be great to use at a tense point in any high-quality movie or television show. It possesses built in depth and drama and exhibits nothing short of complete authenticity.
“Always By Your Side” again lacks complexity, but it’s the kind of track you can close your eyes, turn up and just let wash over you. It is subtle and slow but it also allows Yorke to show off what an effective and dynamic vocalist he really is. It’s lulling and calming.
On “Let it Be True,” Andy proves himself to be the more optimistic Yorke brother. While Thom sings songs about troubling subjects like “Myxomatosis,” Andy, here sings lines like, “Find out exactly what you want and let it be true. / Cuz the sunshine is your friend.” From someone else, this would be shameless schmaltz, but he miraculously pulls it off by peppering the song with darker lines like, “In five years you might as well be dead” and “Who put that price upon your head?” It’s a masterful game of back-and-forth as he effortlessly seesaws between images of hope and doom. Hope does win out, though, because the song is ultimately about discarding negativity and focusing on what you love.
“Mathilda” is yet another softly haunting waltz. Yorke recalls Damien Rice’s sense of tragic, lovesick drama with his opening question, “Mathilda, when we met, is it possible that our lives were already set to collide?” There’s a woozy sense of uneasiness to the tune, but it evident that despite the drama, it is still worth the trip.
“Lay Down” is a brooding, plodding folk-blues-driven song. It is determined and forceful. During the chorus, Yorke plugs in for once, accenting the track with an occasional, paper-thin coat of sonic fuzz to add bits of tension where needed.
“Surrender” puts Yorke back against an eerie, sparse backdrop. Sadness again prevails as he gently plays a haunting acoustic guitar line over an atmospheric, ambient drone. A cello and a subtle heartbeat-like rhythm fill out the rest of the track.
“Ode to a Friend” closes the record with a steady, tapped out beat and a brighter chord progression. Yorke uses a sweet piano line to give the track a friendly tone, but then wisely, ultimately smothers it with some intense guitar distortion, once again demonstrating his knack for showing equal balance between positive and negative.
As an album, “Simple” shows that Andy Yorke is someone worthy of attention. This would be true even if his brother didn’t lead one of the biggest, best bands in the world. It turns out that both brothers are engaging songwriters and performers. They exhibit many similar gifts and their differences compliment each other well. Those who prefer Radiohead’s more experimental work may find Andy Yorke’s work to be basic in comparison, but both Andy and Thom share many traits, even if they end up in striking different places in the end. Andy may not be as revolutionary, but he’s still worth a listen.
Don’t get this record simply because Andy Yorke is Thom Yorke’s brother. Get this record because it is a strong collection of songs. After a few listens, you just might be hooked.
Andy Yorke deserves your attention and this album deserves a real, full-scale U.S. release.
UPDATE: Apparently a U.S. release is in the works! Chocolate Lab Records just informed me that they will release the U.S. hard-copy edition of "Simple" on November 18. It can also be purchased as a download from their website.
September 23, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (6)
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GREAT review!!!
Posted by: seth | Sep 23, 2008 6:31:23 PM
wow, this dude is always gonna be fighting an uphill battle...
Posted by: Jazz | Sep 24, 2008 9:44:33 AM
Hmmm...good review...I'll have to check it out....
Posted by: The Dating Guru | Sep 24, 2008 1:08:36 PM
Thanks for this - I always prefer the quality of the album to the download, so I really appreciate what seems like your single-handed effort to get the US release done - good work!
Posted by: Bill | Sep 24, 2008 5:06:22 PM
Just seen the band in London. Buy the record and go and see them if they tour, you will not be disappointed.
Posted by: Steve Robson | Oct 16, 2008 1:26:41 PM
Wow. Thanks. I really enjoyed The Unbelievable Truth's first album and bits of the second. I think there is a need for Andy's music, particularly since Radiohead have lost their well-honed sense of melody at times as well as their rawer vibe. I, for one, actually miss Pablo Honey. I loved the patchwork aesthetic and melodic compositions (and--yes--real guitars). Looking forward to Andy's new album. If there is a track to match Building, I'm all set!
Posted by: Ranke Lidyek | Jan 29, 2009 7:09:05 PM
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