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Sunday, March 10, 2013

Song / Upcoming Yellowbirds - "Young Men of Promise"

Posted by Kathy Fennessy on Sun, Mar 10, 2013 at 9:55 AM

Royal Potato Family

Sometimes when I can't concentrate, I daydream about imaginary music, movies, and other phenomena that I wish existed, but that I'm unable to create myself, like a combination of specific artists, say a duo featuring cellist Julia Kent and keyboard player Julia Holter (obvious name: Julia and Julia).

In the case of New York's Yellowbirds, their new single draws from influences I wouldn't have thought to put together, and I love it when that happens. Partly due to Sam Cohen's sweet, slightly adenoidal vocals, "Young Men of Promise" has that patented dreamy, woozy Deerhunter* sound, but there's a pronounced British Invasion thread running through the thing, as well—especially those opening guitar chords. I'm thinking specifically of the Hollies ("On a Carousel," "Bus Stop"). It's so lovely, so nostalgic, and so Swinging London that black-and-white visions of Julie Christie and Tom Courtenay dance through my head whenever I play it.

* I'm also getting a Mikal Cronin vibe. Wouldn't mind seeing these two on the same bill.

Royal Potato Family releases Yellowbirds' second LP, Songs from the Vanished Frontier, on May 28. The band plays Portland's Pickathon in August (details here).