Yo La Tengo – ‘Stuff Like That There’

Stuff Like That There is the 14^th studio album from Yo La Tengo, and a sequel of sorts to their 1990 record Fakebook, which features cover songs, covers of the band’s own material, and original compositions. Like Fakebook, this new record includes a handful of covers, two new songs and reinventions of their earlier work. At this stage in their career, the band isn’t likely to achieve any significant mainstream success, especially with an album as self-referential and isolated as Stuff Like That There.  Despite this, there’s a large amount of beauty and delicacy to be found here and entice new listeners, coming largely as a result of the stripped back, mostly acoustic performance style and the addition of guitarist Dave Schramm (returning to the band for the first time since 1986).

Listen late at night when there are no distractions and you might find something wonderful in the gentle whispers of this absorbing record

The cover of Friday I’m In Love by The Cure has generated the most interest of all the tracks on the record; drummer Georgia Hubley provides haunting and subdued lead vocals, a remarkable contrast to those of Robert Smith. However, the group’s efforts at Hank Williams’ I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry and My Hearts Not In It by Darlene McCrea are far superior; Schramm’s clean electric guitar work is effortlessly effective, making the complex seem so very simple.  James McNew’s shift from an electric to an upright bass also contributes greatly to the overall mood of the record, being far less aggressive than on the band’s older experimental electric recordings. New tracks, Rickety and Awhileaway, are as strong as anything from their previous record, the brilliant Fade (2013) – both featuring restrained but effective vocal performances from Ira Kaplan, whose acoustic guitar work is also brilliantly accomplished and understated throughout the album.

This isn’t an record that Yo La Tengo had to make, nor is it one that will make any significant impact in the music industry, but there’s something wonderful about the fact that they are still inspired to create or reinterpret music like this, and achieve their goal so effortlessly. Listen late at night when there are no distractions and you might find something wonderful in the gentle whispers of this absorbing record.

See Yo La Tengo (featuring original guitarist Dave Schramm) live and acoustic, in support of their new album, at Warwick Arts Centre on October 19^th. Tickets on sale now.