Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
In his 20-plus year recording career, composer and multi-instrumentalist Richard Youngs has covered much ground: he's written and recorded wildly different takes on Scottish folk music (Sapphie) and (Airs of the Ear), primal, open-ended sonic architectures on the brilliant River Through Howling Sky, the near-microtonal drone songs of Under Stellar Stream, the deeply conceptual avant songs on Advent, and a near-psychedelic reflection on electro with Like a Neuron. He's also collaborated artist as disparate as Simon Wickham-Smith, Kawabata Makoto, and Jandek. Few, however, expected him to try his hand at making a "pop" album. Nonetheless, Beyond the Valley of the Ultrahits is just that -- or at least his vision of what "pop" is. Done on a dare and released as a limited CD-R on Sonic Oyster Records, it's been reissued on LP with a digital download coupon by Jagjaguwar. For those worrying about Youngs giving up his individuality for a lark, relax. Youngs' compositional, ever forward "voice" is utterly ingrained in these ten highly textured -- somewhat -- conventionally melodic, and rhythmically standard (2/4 and 4/4) tunes. Using synths, sequencers, drum machines, guitars, basses, and multi-tracked vocals, Youngs plays, programs, and sings everything here. On "Like a Sailor," with its gently propulsive sequencers, jittery electronics, and watery sampled atmospheric sounds, Youngs' tender, lilting vocals remind one of Robert Wyatt, though they're slightly more robust. "Collapsing Stars," with its multi- layered vocals, synths, strings, and a stinging guitar solo is the most beautiful and visceral cut here; his melody touches on early New Order and mid-period Talk Talk. "Radio Innocents," which is much denser, sonically reflects latter-era Depeche Mode as it meditates on forgiveness and memory in a perceived endlessly resonant space-time continuum. There is a folk melody at the tune's heart -- and another fine electric guitar solo -- that reminds the listener this is Youngs version on pop, rather than pop itself. The final selection, "Sun Points at the World," with blippy electronics, a two-note bassline, and a skeletal melody is a gorgeously atmospheric romance in less than four minutes, with Youngs channeling Mark Hollis on the vocal. Beyond the Valley of the Ultrahits is an accurately titled collection that extends Youngs reach as a writer, composer, and conceptualist without concession, kitsch, or irony. It is as hauntingly beautiful as anything he's done, while simultaneously being more "accessible."
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From kr133.33/month
Richard Youngs, Artist, MainArtist
2010 Jagjaguwar 2010 Jagjaguwar
Richard Youngs, Artist, MainArtist
2010 Jagjaguwar 2010 Jagjaguwar
Richard Youngs, Artist, MainArtist
2010 Jagjaguwar 2010 Jagjaguwar
Richard Youngs, Artist, MainArtist
2010 Jagjaguwar 2010 Jagjaguwar
Richard Youngs, Artist, MainArtist
2010 Jagjaguwar 2010 Jagjaguwar
Richard Youngs, Artist, MainArtist
2010 Jagjaguwar 2010 Jagjaguwar
Richard Youngs, Artist, MainArtist
2010 Jagjaguwar 2010 Jagjaguwar
Richard Youngs, Artist, MainArtist
2010 Jagjaguwar 2010 Jagjaguwar
Richard Youngs, Artist, MainArtist
2010 Jagjaguwar 2010 Jagjaguwar
Richard Youngs, Artist, MainArtist
2010 Jagjaguwar 2010 Jagjaguwar
Album review
In his 20-plus year recording career, composer and multi-instrumentalist Richard Youngs has covered much ground: he's written and recorded wildly different takes on Scottish folk music (Sapphie) and (Airs of the Ear), primal, open-ended sonic architectures on the brilliant River Through Howling Sky, the near-microtonal drone songs of Under Stellar Stream, the deeply conceptual avant songs on Advent, and a near-psychedelic reflection on electro with Like a Neuron. He's also collaborated artist as disparate as Simon Wickham-Smith, Kawabata Makoto, and Jandek. Few, however, expected him to try his hand at making a "pop" album. Nonetheless, Beyond the Valley of the Ultrahits is just that -- or at least his vision of what "pop" is. Done on a dare and released as a limited CD-R on Sonic Oyster Records, it's been reissued on LP with a digital download coupon by Jagjaguwar. For those worrying about Youngs giving up his individuality for a lark, relax. Youngs' compositional, ever forward "voice" is utterly ingrained in these ten highly textured -- somewhat -- conventionally melodic, and rhythmically standard (2/4 and 4/4) tunes. Using synths, sequencers, drum machines, guitars, basses, and multi-tracked vocals, Youngs plays, programs, and sings everything here. On "Like a Sailor," with its gently propulsive sequencers, jittery electronics, and watery sampled atmospheric sounds, Youngs' tender, lilting vocals remind one of Robert Wyatt, though they're slightly more robust. "Collapsing Stars," with its multi- layered vocals, synths, strings, and a stinging guitar solo is the most beautiful and visceral cut here; his melody touches on early New Order and mid-period Talk Talk. "Radio Innocents," which is much denser, sonically reflects latter-era Depeche Mode as it meditates on forgiveness and memory in a perceived endlessly resonant space-time continuum. There is a folk melody at the tune's heart -- and another fine electric guitar solo -- that reminds the listener this is Youngs version on pop, rather than pop itself. The final selection, "Sun Points at the World," with blippy electronics, a two-note bassline, and a skeletal melody is a gorgeously atmospheric romance in less than four minutes, with Youngs channeling Mark Hollis on the vocal. Beyond the Valley of the Ultrahits is an accurately titled collection that extends Youngs reach as a writer, composer, and conceptualist without concession, kitsch, or irony. It is as hauntingly beautiful as anything he's done, while simultaneously being more "accessible."
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:34:19
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Richard Youngs
- Label: Jagjaguwar
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
2010 Jagjaguwar 2010 Jagjaguwar
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.