Rejoy by Ike Yard
Old heads on young shoulders demonstrate virility, stamina and perfect pace
On Rejoy, growling guitars and Kenny Compton's Alan Vega-esque, drawl evoke murky scenes of eighties avant-garde clubs, a claustrophobic air of danger hanging over every dishevelled chord, the sickly sweet smell of piss in the dark corners assaulting the senses like the rumbling soundsystem bass penetrating your body. Reliving the joy, the excitement, of those formative moments is a rush. What year is this again? Oh hell, it's 1982 2018, the year of Ike Yard's debut third album.
Back in the early eighties, Ike Yard were pioneering post-punk, a sound championed in recent years by labels like Downwards and Minimal Wave. Arguably they're still making this Darkwave style of music today (it certainly aligns with my teenage-self memories) even though they've adopted contemporary cutting-edge aesthetics into their production. Once bare and basic, now it's rich and complex. Modern yet retrospective. A fine balance.
Whispered prophecies, long riffing chords, grisly Ambient instrumentals and plenty of understated melody, all vital ingredients in modern post-punk. Make no mistake, this ageing trio from New York are making timeless music.
- Rating: 7/10
- Listens: 16
- Highlight: Indra's Net
- Label: Noiztank
- Release Date: 10th October 2018
