NewMusic First Spin: Young Galaxy
August 18th, 2009
Young Galaxy first came into most people’s consciousness as an addition to the Arts & Crafts family in 2007. Representing as the label’s token dream pop act, their self-titled debut struck a chord with the shoegazer community for its ethereal textures and refreshing depth, not to mention the boy-girl tag team vocals of primary members Stephen Ramsay and Catherine McCandless.
Now with a new label, Fontana North, Young Galaxy return with Invisible Republic, a more varied album that still keeps its head in the clouds, but comes back down to shake up the foundation they laid out on their more direct debut.
Long Live the Fallen World opens with some ’80s nuances courtesy of the splashing synths and that angelic call of McCandless (think very early Sarah McLachlan). Things get more interesting when it breaks into its coda, slamming on the brakes, pulling a U-turn and then chugging to a Krautrockin’ motorik pulse. Destroyer sets its guitars to a jet engine squeal that recalls the late L.A. shoegazers Medicine, before it descends into one of the more memorable choruses on the album.
The standouts, however, stray more from what Young Galaxy has become known for. Pathos drops the guitar squalls for a bit of piano, which waltzes in a carnival-esque motion before it rises up to heaven. Disposable Times is even more unpredictable, shimmying to the type of sexy, hand drum rhythm Sade is known for. Queen Drum looks to U2 for some inspiration, nicking those marching drums from “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and the Edge’s signature guitarscapes to guide McCandless on the weighty chorus.
The only way to sum up the closer Firestruck is by declaring it their “Freebird.” While it could be twice as long to sustain its epic scale, everything – McCandless’ poignant vocals, the gospel choir, the soul-saving organs and the melting guitar solo – converges for a finish that is certain to inspire the swaying illumination of lighters and cell phones whenever it’s performed live.
Author: Cam Lindsay
Track Listing:
- Long Live The Fallen World
- Oh Sister
- Destroyer
- Pathos
- Light Years
- Times
- Dreams
- Queen Drum
- Smoke and Mirror Show
- Firestruck
Tags: first spin, young galaxy
Posted on Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 at 1:52 pm by Alberto and is filed under Reviews, The New Music.
