This is The Age of Aquarius, a time associated with hope and innovation and, on this evidence alone, principles by which YĪN YĪN clearly lead their musical life. It also just happens to be the title of the second album from the Maastricht-based band. And they are here in this country to promote the record – due out this Friday on Glitterbeat – for what is their very first tour of the United Kingdom.
Keyboard player Robbert Verwijlen advises us that tonight they will play some new songs (from The Age of Aquarius), some old songs (from its predecessor, 2019’s The Rabbit That Hunts Tigers), and then some more songs besides. And do you know what, he is almost true to his word until on the stroke of 11 o’clock YĪN YĪN finally run out of songs to play. But by that time the Dutch band have done more than enough to have earned their corn and cemented their reputation as one of Europe’s more exciting acts.
In concert, ‘Shēnzhou V.’ and ‘Nautilus’ – the early singles to be showcased from The Age Of Aquarius – acquire an even greater muscular heft as West meets East on the Crescent dancefloor. There’s a whole lot going on here as YĪN YĪN cross a continuum from West coast psychedelia to South-East Asian aesthetics, embracing lashings of disco, funk and electronic experimentation along the way. Of the older material, a particular highlight is ‘Alpaca Mountain’ whose sinewy groove builds up a delightful head of steam as it gathers an irresistible cosmic momentum.
Introduced as the last song of the night with its heavy funk and unstoppable Fatback Band vibe ‘Chong Wang’ provides us with a false ending because YĪN YĪN return – in truth they don’t actually leave the stage – with ‘Dis̄ kô Dis̄ kô’ where they harness the intoxicating bass run from Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’ to a pulsating Afrobeat, throwing in a quick blast of French pop duo Ottawan’s ‘D.I.S.C.O.’ for seriously good measure and illustrating their versatility and supreme sonic creativity as they do so.
Photos: Simon Godley
More photos from this show are HERE
