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Oftentimes, archly avant-garde music can be so tastefully cerebral, you find yourself missing the sexy swing of traditional pop. Seamlessly bridging the gap with their 2015 debut Communion, London electronic trio Years & Years manage to artfully combine the ambient, '80s style synth-pop of M83 with the funky dancefloor grooves of Justin Timberlake. Produced by Mark Ralph and Two Inch Punch (Sam Smith, Jessie Ware), the album's appeal lies in the angelic melisma of frontman Olly Alexander. Blessed with an ethereal voice that still packs a soulful punch, Alexander has a mutable quality, evincing the floating lyrical style of Jeff Buckley one minute, then launching into all-out '90s boy band croon the next. Musically, keyboardist Emre Turkmen and bassist Mikey Goldsworthy take a similarly cross-pollinated approach, mixing the icy swirl of deep house with the driving, bass-heavy pulse of post-punk bands like New Order. And while cuts like "King" and "Gold" are tailor-made for blasting out of dance club speakers, there is a substantive, experimental aspect to some of the arrangements on Communion. Many of the tracks, like the opening "Foundation" and the dramatic "Ties," start out with hypnotic, repetitive electronic lines that bring to mind the modern classical style of composers like Philip Glass and Steve Reich. It comes as little surprise then that the band have name-dropped such wide-ranging influences as Flying Lotus, Diplo, and Radiohead. That said, at their core, Years & Years are a pop group, and Communion fits nicely next to the work of such similarly inclined artists as Frankmusik and La Roux. Ultimately, Years & Years are so passionately in touch with their influences, they've transformed them into something new and full of the light. As Alexander sings on "Shine," "Can you see me? I'm shining."
© Matt Collar /TiVo
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John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Ralph, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2015 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Smith, Producer - Mark Ralph, Producer, Co-Producer - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Programming, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Geoff Swan, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Olly Alexander, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2015 Kitsune
Greg Kurstin, ComposerLyricist - John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Ralph, Producer - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Cymbals, Percussion, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Samples, Programming, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Geoff Swan, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Olly Alexander, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dylan Bell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2015 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Smith, Producer, Percussion, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, Electronic Percussion, ComposerLyricist - Mark Ralph, Producer, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Hull, ComposerLyricist - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Percussion, Bass Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Synthesizer, Samples, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander, Vocals, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Martha Kinn, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2014 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Ben Kohn, ComposerLyricist - Tom Barnes, ComposerLyricist - Peter Kelleher, ComposerLyricist - John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MARK STENT, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Ralph, Producer - Tom Hull, ComposerLyricist - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Drums, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Samples, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Olly Alexander, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2015 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Emma Smith, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Vincent Sipprell, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Spencer, Producer, Mixer, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Additional Producer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Ralph, Producer - Two Inch Punch, Producer, Drums, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Drum, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer - Anna Straker, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander, Piano, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Laura Moody, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Jennymay Logan, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2015 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Ralph, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Percussion, Piano, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Samples, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander, Piano, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2015 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Smith, Producer, Additional Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Ralph, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Cymbals, Percussion, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Synthesizer, Programming, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, Electronic Percussion, ComposerLyricist - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Olly Alexander, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2015 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Ralph, Producer, Mixer, Co-Producer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Hull, ComposerLyricist - Two Inch Punch, Producer, Percussion, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Cymbals, Percussion, Additional Producer, Bass Programming, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Percussion, Additional Producer, Synthesizer, Clapping, Programming, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander, Vocals, Synthesizer, Clapping, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, Additional Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2014 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Ralph, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Tom Hull, ComposerLyricist - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Co-Producer, Bass Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Co-Producer, Samples, Programming, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Geoff Swan, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Olly Alexander, Piano, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2015 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Ralph, Producer, Mixer, Co-Producer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Co-Producer, Bass Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Percussion, Co-Producer, Rhythm Programming, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2015 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Ralph, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Synthesizer, Theremin, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Percussion, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Programming, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2015 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Ralph, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Synthesizer, Bass Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Percussion, Piano, Programming, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander, Piano, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2014 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Ralph, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Bass Guitar, Theremin, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2015 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Ralph, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander, Piano, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2015 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Ralph, Producer, Mixer, Co-Producer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Percussion, Co-Producer, Bass Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Percussion, Co-Producer, Programming, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander, Percussion, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2015 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mark Ralph, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander, Piano, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2015 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Davis, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Ralph, Producer, Mixer, Co-Producer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Hull, ComposerLyricist - Two Inch Punch, Producer, Percussion, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Tove Lo, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Tove Nilsson, ComposerLyricist - Michael Goldsworthy, Producer, Cymbals, Percussion, Additional Producer, Bass Programming, Clapping, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Emre Turkmen, Producer, Percussion, Additional Producer, Synthesizer, Clapping, Programming, Synthesizer Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander, Vocals, Synthesizer, Clapping, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Olly Alexander (Years & Years), Producer, Additional Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2016 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Album review
Oftentimes, archly avant-garde music can be so tastefully cerebral, you find yourself missing the sexy swing of traditional pop. Seamlessly bridging the gap with their 2015 debut Communion, London electronic trio Years & Years manage to artfully combine the ambient, '80s style synth-pop of M83 with the funky dancefloor grooves of Justin Timberlake. Produced by Mark Ralph and Two Inch Punch (Sam Smith, Jessie Ware), the album's appeal lies in the angelic melisma of frontman Olly Alexander. Blessed with an ethereal voice that still packs a soulful punch, Alexander has a mutable quality, evincing the floating lyrical style of Jeff Buckley one minute, then launching into all-out '90s boy band croon the next. Musically, keyboardist Emre Turkmen and bassist Mikey Goldsworthy take a similarly cross-pollinated approach, mixing the icy swirl of deep house with the driving, bass-heavy pulse of post-punk bands like New Order. And while cuts like "King" and "Gold" are tailor-made for blasting out of dance club speakers, there is a substantive, experimental aspect to some of the arrangements on Communion. Many of the tracks, like the opening "Foundation" and the dramatic "Ties," start out with hypnotic, repetitive electronic lines that bring to mind the modern classical style of composers like Philip Glass and Steve Reich. It comes as little surprise then that the band have name-dropped such wide-ranging influences as Flying Lotus, Diplo, and Radiohead. That said, at their core, Years & Years are a pop group, and Communion fits nicely next to the work of such similarly inclined artists as Frankmusik and La Roux. Ultimately, Years & Years are so passionately in touch with their influences, they've transformed them into something new and full of the light. As Alexander sings on "Shine," "Can you see me? I'm shining."
© Matt Collar /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 18 track(s)
- Total length: 01:04:28
- Main artists: Olly Alexander (Years & Years)
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Polydor Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2016 Polydor Ltd. (UK) ℗ 2016 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
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