This UK electro-pop duo has caused quite a stir with their debut Yes, and Dance by surprising critics and audiences alike. The reason for this is that the dance community does not know the two members, Adem Ilhan and Johnny Lynch, for their musical contributions or, most likely, for anything else. This is because the former plays bass in a post-rock/electronica outfit and the latter is a folk singer/songwriter also known as Pictish Trail.
With this in mind, it would be natural to predict that a couple of blokes from the folk scene would just be embarrassing themselves if they attempted to go all Hot Chip (who are Silver Columns’ most immediate and obvious comparison) on an album together. Unfortunately for the sceptics amongst you, Yes, And Dance actually turns out to be a bit of a gem.
This album is full of samples that are as quirky as an 80’s arcade machine, clean and soothing synths that maintain a sense of level headedness, and catchy beats throughout. The duo’s folk roots show through in the vocals, which sound like they could have been written in the standard verse-chorus-verse format. ‘Cavalier’ begins with a catchy synth loop and an up-tempo beat which reels you in unwittingly. The samples are quite garish and are therefore introduced slowly until they become more and more layered towards the end to great effect. ‘Always On’ has an underlying melancholy feel to it, which is mostly conveyed through the vocals. This undertone is juxtaposed by the ultra happy/camp disco styling of the rest of the song, which makes for curiously enjoyable listening. ‘Brow Beaten’ has an almost sinister intro that’s quickly replaced by some falsetto vocals and the signature technique of piling samples on top of one another. The title track is reminiscent of The Ones’ ‘Flawless’ and really starts to shine after about 90 seconds where the vocals eventually lead into a breakdown, which in turn brings the calmer outro around very nicely.
Silver Columns already sound like someone who is working well within their comfort zone and very much unlike a misguided rookie meddling with unfamiliar territories. There are no dull moments on Yes, And Dance and almost every second offers something unique or catchy. The almost excessive samples sometimes verge on becoming annoying but always die away just before they do so and this only adds to their appeal. Plus, there isn’t a track that is easy to dislike. This is well worth forking out for and it would be a good idea to look out for a follow-up; even if it is only to see if they got lucky first time around.
STEREOBOARD RATING - 4/5.
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