Monday, January 3, 2011

REVIEW: Ike Yard - Nord

8 out of 10

Many years ago in a far away kingdom known as New York City (circa late 70's to early 80's) was an era in music that had no idea how important it was. No Wave music was the meshing of Art meets Punk meets Pop meets Synthesizers meets city life meets "Anti-Anti" themes. In many ways one could consider it the birth of Indie music (maybe?). One of the artists from said era was Ike Yard, whom mixed Industrial/found sounds with collaged Post Punk mediums/abstract audial art. (Probably) due to the fact that they formed right around the tail-end of the No Wave era and couldn't find the "right" label, they were highly overlooked (which was/is massively disappointing). They may have been a short lived act, but their impact is more important than most people know. 30 years later (now) they've returned ...Truly a blessing in unique disguise. I welcome the notion with wide open ears and optimistic thoughts. Thanks for (re)joining us Ike Yard.

"Nord", Ike Yard's long overdue return, starts off with a "middle eastern sounding" synth looped underneath a simple drum beat, scratching noises of some sort, and a pulsing bass line. This is not the Ike Yard you remember, but if you take it in song by song you will love it more and more. I understand, when a band has been gone for 30+ years there has to be some sort of skip in their "evolutionary process" that we as the listeners miss out on. When listening to "Nord" you will notice that "skip" or difference immediately. This is not a bad thing mind you, this is simply Ike Yard creating their brand of Art as best as they can while maintaining a "modern sounding vibe". If previous Ike Yard tracks were considered Industrial/Post Punk/No Wave, consider their sounds of today "Electronic/Dub" music meets art meets melancholic noise meets metallic seduction. A much more "polished" Ike Yard if you will..

I trust this release won't be for everyone's ears, but for those into darker sounds, mechanistic tones, and art in the form of noise this WILL BE up your alley. "Nord" breathes the best kind of synthetic brilliance into your headphones. Hey Ike! Please don't make us wait as long next time?? #59 of 2010 Recommended (most definitely).

Standout Tracks: I love em all, but especially; Mirai, Masochistic (MOAR!), Metallic Blank (gorgeous and ugly at the same time), Beautiful Terrible (if any theme is to be taken in from this release, let it be this song. PERFECT), Citiesglit, Orange Tom

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