Yeasayer could be just another one in a long line of Middle Eastern-psych-snap-gospel bands, but they avoid falling into this well-worn trap by seemingly inhabiting a different universe from all other bands. A universe where sitars, synths, bongos, sequencers, fretless bass, choir harmonies all somehow make sense when combined together. There seems to be some kind of religious fervour about their music, like it is the gospel music of the religion of a post-apocalyptic future; it must be all the chanting.
I don't like the term "World Music" because it implies that all music apart from that sung in English and originating from somewhere outside of Britain or the United States is somehow all the same and can be considered as one genre. Also, it begs the question if this is world music then where do you come from? Somewhere other than the world? Anyway, that aside, Yeasayer do take a diverse range of influences from traditional cultures and combine that with modern instruments, like synths and sequencers. It should not work but somehow it does.
Most of the time it is not that easy to work out what guitarist/vocalist Anand Wilde is on about and quite often the vocals are multi-tracked and sampled all over the place. As discussed in previous reviews, this is a good thing.
So even if the concept does not sound your thing, give it a try, you may like it.
Recommended track: 2080, Sunrise or Wait For The Summer.
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