YULE: Aaaarrrggh!!!

By Ania Glowacz

Don't be misled by the album cover or the title - this is not a metal or punk album in the least. From the ukulele intro to the Mike Skinner impersonation in the middle, this is an eclectic bedroom recording mashup with pluses but also several minuses. Recorded over the last four years between Dunedin and Grey Lynn, there's potential in some of the tracks, with plenty of growing up to do in others. Essentially a solo act, Yule (come on dude, 'fess up!) has now been joined (since recording) by a couple of ex-members of One Million Dollars - Alex Urlich and Jonathan Goss. This will be a good thing, as the main impression this release leaves is that it could do with further fleshing out. The trumpet and sax on a few of the tracks are great, the bedroom Radiohead-isms (Migraine and A Mess) show promise, the '80s inflections on Digital Disco and Work Ethic are quirky and cool, and some of the lyrics definitely pass muster. There's a definite low budget sheen, but more polishing is really required.

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NZ Musician

February/March 2009