ジャンルを越えた音楽性で人気を博すヤング・ファーザーズ 最新アルバム完成！！

英マーキュリー・プライズの受賞や、映画『T2トレインスポッティング』への楽曲提供、さらにはマッシヴ・アタックとの来日公演も行った、ヤング・ファーザーズが実に5年ぶりとなる最新作『Heavy Heavy』を〈NINJA TUNE〉よりリリース。
10曲入りの本作は、地下のスタジオにメンバー3人と限られた機材とマイクだけという、基本に立ち返ったアプローチで制作された。
すべてが常にプラグインされ、すべてが常に手の届くところにあるセッティングだったという。
自由奔放にスタジオ・セッションをする中で完成した最初の曲が先行シングル「Geronimo」であり、これまでの楽曲の中で、最もソウルフルな楽曲といえる出来栄えとなっている。
そして、2ndシングルの「I Saw」は、ジャンルを越えた音楽性で知られるヤング・ファーザーズならではの、軽快なリズム、コントロールされたカオス、ソウルフルな歌など、ファンが愛してやまない要素が満載の曲となっている。
マッシヴ・アタックの3Dが「世界で今、ファッキン・ベストなバンドだ」と語り、そのマッシヴ・アタックとのツアーでのパフォーマンスを見たノエル・ギャラガーが、エルトン・ジョンのラジオ番組で「度肝を抜かれた」と絶賛、LCDサウンドシステムのツアー・サポートもつとめるなど、錚々たる大物アーティストたちを魅了するヤング・ファーザーズ。

発売・販売元 提供資料 （2022/10/21）

For Young Fathers, "back to basics" assuredly has a meaning that differs from that of a fading rock band with a renewed interest in all-analog recording or a pop singer following up a flop made with a dozen production teams. Heavy Heavy was pitched that way, the sound of the Scottish trio sequestered in their basement studio with what gear was on hand. Kayus Bankole, Graham Hastings, and Alloysious Massaquoi conversely werent self-sufficient, bringing in co-producer and multi-instrumentalist Iain Berryman (Florence + the Machine, Beabadoobee), ancillary musicians for strings and additional percussion, and a few extra voices. Moreover, they continue here to hone their rich hybrid sound -- gospel, soul, folk, dub, and hip-hop recombined with punk energy -- and reaffirm that deeply physical music can have a psychedelic quality. There is a key difference. Where their previous LPs up through Cocoa Sugar could seem impenetrable, or require no small amount of mental exertion to make a connection, this one is much more inviting, if not instantly so. Its something like approaching a raucous uprising or celebration that seems forbidding until the glimpse of a hand extended from the mass. Heavy Heavy pulls in the listener with an empathetic lust for life that, whether brimming with optimism, steeling for a threat to survival, or reckoning with a perceived futility of existence, somehow never wavers. Its lowest in spirit on "Geronimo" with sung-spoken remarks about "hell on earth" and the pointlessness of being "dressed up just to go in the dirt," but the stammering percussion develops into battle drums, and the mens overlapping voices intensify, resolving to "survive and provide" as "a son, brother, uncle, father figure." "Tell Somebody" expresses inner turmoil but sounds practically epiphanal, like it was recorded in a cathedral instead of a cellar. Its one of few songs with space. The rest are packed with sound inducing continuous movement and thought with unrelenting drums that grind and throttle, handclaps, and high-energy group vocals, all layered with whirling noise that seems to be emanating from a large echo chamber. Release is achieved through dance on most of the highlights. "Drum" more than any other song encapsulates Young Fathers perspective. Built on a rapid bass thrum, it implores to "Hear the beat of the drums and go numb" because "Theyre gonna get ya anyway." Hardened glam shuffle "I Saw" starts with "I want your shield, I want your weapon," and remains all righteous defiance expressed with clenched teeth. Young Fathers add to the sense of community by handing the mike to friend Tapiwa Mambo on "Ululation," appropriately enough the albums most jubilant moment. ~ Andy Kellman

Rovi