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Yobrepus — A Rhizome Revolution – Part 1
(Apollon Records AP, 2024, CD / LP / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2024-07-15

A Rhizome Revolution – Part 1 Cover art

On their third album, Yobrepus moves from fungus (Blakc Mould, Mycelium Days) to plants with A Rhizome Revolution – Part 1. (I note that “rhizome” also has a meaning in philosophy, referring to a non-linear network, which seems somewhat symbolic based on the botanical meaning.) Applying such a theme to the songs on the album is probably a fruitless (pardon the plant pun) endeavor, but the six tracks here are an intriguing mix of styles. “Stay Cool” starts off with a gnarly bass synth backing a plodding beat and distorted vocals that bring to mind industrial bands of the 90s, but there’s also a gentle and melodic section for contrast, all of which makes for a great tune. “The Enabler” is the longest track at over nine minutes, and it has many of the hallmarks of a post-rock mini-epic. It builds from a very quiet beginning to a dramatic climax, with bassist Vegard Weyergang Vartdal adding some saxophones for flavor. Composer Mats Jørgen Sivertsen plays keyboards and guitar as well as singing; Vartdal also sings and adds more guitar and keys; Øyvind Rognerud contributes guitar, synth, and electric piano; and the drums are handled by Paal Urdal. Guests provide a full string section and additional keyboards and guitars. Musically, other influences in the mix are a kind of experimental electronic rock along the lines of Radiohead, prog-inflected atmospheric rock like Airbag, and lushly orchestrated acoustic rock. The Yobrepus brand on art-rock has a lot going for it, and has sounds that should appeal to a broad range of listeners. The second part of A Rhizome Revolution is due out in October, and the Bandcamp purchase gets you both parts.

Filed under: New releases, 2024 releases

Related artist(s): Yobrepus

More info
http://yobrepus.bandcamp.com/album/a-rhizome-revolution-part-1-2

 

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