Reviewed by
The indie scene has been celebrating the phenomenal Yatesy and the exceptional blend of styles reminiscent of the best of 80s and 90s music; you can certainly understand the reason why-especially with this latest release “A New Life On A New Planet” as well as listening through the music he’s offered over his career.
This song is an outstanding example of all the elements which makes Yatesy the much admired artist he is. That stunning swirl of multiple guitar and synth layers that seem to whirl around the vocals in this track gives an otherworldly effect-something which is the mark of a songwriter who excels at their craft is of course the creativity conveyed within the music and lyrics -it’s also the sound design which helps emphasise the meaning and emotions being expressed. This immersive instrumental backdrop bubbling underneath the vocal seems intentional as that sonic whirlpool of guitars and synths are playing a huge part in conveying the theme of the lyrics and title of the song with great precision and artistic clarity. All within just under 3 minutes we have music which leaves you wishing that you could remain in this new soundscape for a while longer. The vocal shape and melody along with the lyrics are uniquely Yatesy…as he’s “singing a sad song” the music sounds soothing and beautiful…this sonic world is a place where you can “forget what’s going on in your head” as the protagonist keeps “singing a sad song” whilst also reassuring the listener that this place is a place to go whether feeling low or whatever real world emotion you’re experiencing; to step back, take a breath and enjoy this life. This is essentially the feeling that music has given myself over a lifetime, and I’m certain that the exact same feeling that music is a place to go to runs through the minds of musicians, music lovers and artists all around the world. This is a sterling piece of songwriting by Yatesy which will resonate with a lot of us. Even if the lyrics might convey a wistful sadness-the music is a brilliant healer and a great “other” world which give us all freedom to be-to allow ourselves to stand in a patch of sunshine for a moment.
To Yatesy (and those all throughout this awesome music scene) Thank you for this brilliant reminder of why music matters so much.
