REJOICE!

It is only two years since Frédéric L'Epée (guitars, synth, chorus), Laurent James (guitars, chorus), Nico Gomez (bass, chorus), and Volodia Brice (drums) released their last album, 'Designed for Disaster', which makes their fifth album the fastest to follow another yet. That might have something to do with the review of that release which Frédéric read where it was compared to America's Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. That led him on a voyage of discovery as that band was new to him, and he realised their singer, Carla Kihlstedt, would be perfect for the work they were doing so he invited her to take on lead vocals. He found himself writing with her voice in mind and providing lyrics with meanings as he wanted her to be driven by them the same way he was.

There is no doubt that many will think of Yang as followers of King Crimson, and their complex, syncopated and polyrhythmic guitars certainly brings to mind Fripp, but only in the sense that they are incredibly experimental and inventive and need immense skill to be able to provide the musicality and melody which turns these into more than just complex finger exercises. The five songs (out of thirteen) which contain vocals feel different to the rest of the album just because the focus is in a different place, but there is no doubt they belong here, and it is difficult for me to say which style I prefer, but the instrumental "Concretion" is very special indeed and at 7:25 is just way too short. This is my first exposure to this French avant progressive outfit but I can see I need to seek out of the rest of their albums as this is very special indeed.