Yang: Machines

Yang are an instrumental outfit hailing from France that play guitar rock blended with a variety of styles including metal, jazz, heavy prog and probably a few more that I have yet to discover. In the band are Volodia Brice (drums, electronic equipment), Nico Gomez (bass), Laurent James (guitars) and Frédéric L'Epée (guitars, saz, piano, sound programming).

The songs are built around complex guitar rhythms and structures often going from heavy instrumental crescendos to lighter, fragile guitar parts. For an instrumental release I found this to be a compelling listen which kept me fully engaged from start to finish. I love how the band transition between intricate and discordant guitar patterns to more melodic parts effortlessly, in much the same way as 70s King Crimson. Suffice to say the musicianship is top notch.

Beginning with the heavy guitar rock of "massacre" where discordant guitar patterns give way to a more peaceful guitar style and vice versa, the music took this listener on an interesting journey and sets the tone nicely for what is to come. More twists and turns can be heard in the very progressive sounding "superball" where lighter textures and dense guitar chords makes for a compelling listen. The contrast between complex guitar arrangements and softer melodies makes "from melancholy to rebellion" another winner. "3ème messs" takes more of a metal approach having a slightly ominous sound where Eastern tinged guitar melodies are interspersed with heavy guitar chords. This is the kind of stuff you can expect throughout this CD.

This was another strong instrumental release from 2009 that would have made my best of the year list if I would have got to it sooner. Highly recommended for purveyors of guitar heavy progressive music and also for those who appreciate bands like King Crimson.

Track Listing:
1. massacre (5:17)
2. superball (4:21)
3. de la mélancolie à la révolte (from melancholy to rebellion) (5:12)
4. le procès (prosecution) (5:55)
5. circuits de satisfaction (satisfaction circuits) (5:15)
6. 3ème messs (5:41)
7. l'étau familial (the family vice) (4:33)
8. heavy motion, light thoughts (mouvement lourd, pensées légères) (5:46)
9. some rescued demons (quelques démons sauvés) (5:18)
10. temperance (4:02)

Added: January 10th 2010
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Official Site
Hits: 3483
Language: english

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