Jad Fair & Norman Blake – Yes

Album Review by Will Fitzpatrick | 18 May 2015
Album title: Yes
Artist: Jad Fair & Norman Blake
Label: Joyful Noise
Release date: 12 May

Half Japanese icon Jad Fair teams up with Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake for the first time since 2002’s Words Of Wisdom And Hope – predictably, the results are rather lovely. Yes ticks all the boxes you’d expect; Jad unleashing adorably wide-eyed spiels of squeaky-voiced positivity, while Norm’s sweet, hummable arrangements keep the sugar down to palatable levels. It's quietly marvellous.

Blake’s on fine form here, whether dabbling in sombre piano minimalism, cutesy college rock or just straight-up guitar heroism, as he does for three thrilling minutes on the excellent Thank You. As a bonus, steering away from Half Japanese’s oft-skronking noisepop actually makes the Michigan veteran seem less manic; his proclamations hit home harder.

This is an album about life, love and looking forward, and while its more earnest qualities will doubtless prove a turn-off to some (and anathema to those of a gnarlier disposition), its very human peculiarities are sheer pop magic nonetheless.

http://joyfulnoiserecordings.com