aaamusic | On 18, Mar 2012

Taking a break from his day job Brighton psych-poppers The Electric Soft Parade Thomas White decides to scratch that uniting itch of all members of esoteric, uncompromising indie bands, the side project/solo record. “Yalla!” is one of the latter types, and, unlike the multitude of records of a similar genesis (member of not quite obscure indie band decides to make very obscure record that sells even less than their day job), “Yalla!” is, for one, inspired by something more than boredom and/or a worrying trip to the cash machine (the record was mostly written and recorded during a semi-disastrous trip to Egypt, and is therefore characterised by themes of home and longing), it is also pretty damn mesmerizing from start to finish. Ramshackle, raw and sparse, yes, but all that conspires to highlight the sheer songwriting talent on offer.

 

At ten tracks averaging roughly two and a half minutes White can never be accused of self-indulgence, which is something else that marks him out from other side projects/solo projects in the first place, but crucially, what it also means is that folk who might not consider themselves a fan of acoustic music won’t find it getting old. Take I’ll See Her Again for example, the song is definably White and an acoustic guitar, but it’s so steeped in good old fashioned song craft that it’s markedly different from anything else on the record, which, bar some sundry piano and multi-tracked vocals is also just White and an acoustic guitar. Personally, I can’t get enough quiet, confessional, songs from sensitive souls so in a way, the record is almost too slight, too simple. However, before I can properly feel that, some melodic nuance will catch me off guard and absorb me wholeheartedly yet again.

 

Beyond that, there isn’t much more to say. If there is one criticism to be had it is that if the songs don’t captivate you as much as they do me then there isn’t much else at all to find here. The record also doesn’t feel like something that will be played in years to come, but it doesn’t need to be. Taken for what it is, a short, direct set of songs by a supremely talented songwriter, I’m willing to bet my own money that you won’t find a better example this year.

 

Will Howard