KOYO

Change is good and KOYO certainly show that they are not afraid to embrace it. Following the release of their acclaimed self-titled debut album in 2017, KOYO were heralded as up-and-coming champions of the new wave of psychedelia-tinged prog rock. Fast forward 3 years, and KOYO are back with their sophomore album, "You Said It". While the new record maintains a penchant for psychedelia-infused melodies, the album also marks a clear change of direction for the band. Gone are most of the pure prog influences, to make room for a simpler alternative rock/pop vibe.

The 11 songs on "You Said It" are in fact much more direct and straightforward compared to the debut album, often brining out a punkish attitude and rawness that caught me off guard at first. There still are progressive undertones, notably in the clever and classy arrangements and in some angular guitar riffs that emerge here and there throughout the album. But these influences are kept in the background, as the songwriting has instead been simplified to give the songs a standard verse-chorus-verse structure with the occasional coda or instrumental background to inject some variation to the formula. The arrangements themselves, while classy, are kept simple, giving a definite raw live feel to the songs.

Despite the simpler format, there's enough variation across the tracks to keep things interesting from start to finish. In some pieces, like on "Same Mistake Twice", "Obelisk" or "Ostracised", KOYO show that their teeth are sharp, venturing in musical directions that verge on the punk rock, with heavy guitars and shouted vocal lines that make them sound like untamed Tame Impalas (sorry, couldn't resist). On others, like on "Surrounded", "Rolling in My Head" or the brief instrumental "Murmur", the band is more restrained, showing their more psychedelic, dream-pop side. There's some very tasty synth work on these tracks, with lovely loops ebbing and flowing behind Huw Edwards' emotive vocal lines. The other songs stay on safer ground, living in a space between alternative rock and indie. While in some cases the raw energy of the band makes things interesting (notably on the lengthy instrumental coda to "Against All Odds"), I generally have a hard time enjoying this more straightforward bunch of songs without getting distracted and slightly bored.

Ultimately, though, there's more to like than to dislike on "You Said It". While the connection with their prog past is feeble, I found KOYO's new album to be an enjoyable ride through territories that I do not normally visit (indie, punk, alt-rock), but that I nevertheless can relate to and appreciate. I would recommend this to fans of bands like Tame Impala or Syd Arthur. However, fans of more traditional prog rock/metal should approach this release with caution.