Young Fathers: Heavy Heavy

It’s been a while…

I thought I’d bring these reviews back with one of my favourite records from last year, Young Fathers fourth album ‘Heavy Heavy’

Side A opens with ‘Rice’ a wall of noise and some hard hitting lyrics. It’s a brilliant way to open a record. With a pace that sets the tone. It doesn’t let up. A song with a rather sensitive subject, where the band talk about the gold mining trade in Africa and how peoples lives are being destroyed. It’s hard hitting and impactful. ‘ I Saw’ follows and for many this is the best song on the album.  The albums second single, and again it doesn’t let up. With a chorus that you cannot help but be gripped by. Call and response vocals are used to great effect in this song. It becomes a tribal like chant rather than a song. This is Young Fathers at their very best. ‘Drum is the next song on Side A and again it follows a similar vein to the previous two songs, this time with some outstanding drumming. It’s a real anthem. When this album first came out it was the first song I was really drawn to. It’s brilliant. Following these three fast paced frenzies, is ‘Tell Somebody’ the first time on the album where the band slow things down, it almost acts as a crescendo. With pulsating symbols and powerful drums. Lyrically the song is a relatively simple one, but it has its place on the record. Giving us time to breathe after what has come before it. Ending Side A is ‘Geronimo’ the albums first single, another slower track, full of reverb and a constant click track that sets the pace of the song. It does sound like your vinyl is skipping but I promise it’s meant to be there. This is the sound of a band operating at the peak of their powers. It’s unlike anything else. I can’t describe Young Fathers. The music they make is so unique.

Side B opens with ‘Shoot You Down’ a song that has an instant impact. With call and response demands being made by the band members of the reverb of a powerful synth and almost tribal like drums. Before mellowing slightly into one of the albums best delivered vocals. Adding to the eclectic mix of music that this record has already provided. ‘Ululation’ follows and this song continues the theme of surprising us. It sees Young Fathers explore new ground again. A short but joyous affair, that sounds nothing like anything else on the record. I’m unsure how to describe this song without you listening to it!

‘Sink or Swim’ is next and if push comes to shove this is my favourite track on the record. It’s a bombastic affair soundtracked by pulsating drums, and a chorus that was made for festival fields around the world. It’s an unbelievable song. ‘Holy Moly’ has the difficult job of following it, and it does it well, a pop masterpiece, it snarls and growls in the right places. This is one of the albums darkest songs, and has some scathing lyrics. With a bombastic chorus that seems to get bigger as the song grows. ‘Be Your Lady’ ends the album. A slower somber affair much like ‘Tell Somebody’ on Side A, it brings the album to a natural stop and conclusion. 

An album that doesn’t outstay its welcome, a collection of joyous modern pop music.  
One of the best records of the last decade never mind the last year.

I urge you to listen to it!

Thank you for reading x