There's something timeless about the music of Olden Yolk. The band's set to drop their second album proper on Trouble in Mind tomorrow and it is, like their first album in 2018, the sort of release that blends elements of folk-rock with what I'd call chamber pop. On this new one, called Living Theatre, the players add a few more up-tempo numbers whose vigor does nothing to dispel the real (and treasured) air of mystery about the tunes of Olden Yolk.
"Grand Palais" and "Cotton and Cane" have a real rollicking charm about them, enough to earn the tunes some favorable comparisons to stuff from The Clientele and even Belle and Sebastian, while the elegant "Every Ark" ventures into the sort of territory usually covered by bands like Broadcast and Lake Ruth. Elsewhere, "Distant Episode" and, especially, closer "Angelino High" veer into the lane occupied by acts like Damon & Naomi, with the hooks here sedate, though not boring, ones. Olden Yolk -- Shane Butler and Caity Shaffer -- have progressed here, such that the music on Living Theatre feels more self-contained, despite those easy comparison-points I threw around up there. The duo have a real knack for making this sort of thing work so well, and without a trace of pretentiousness about it, and the tunes here are easy to love, and markedly well-considered and crafted. Pristine pop abounds here on Living Theatre and fans of acts as disparate as Sandy Denny, The Clientele, and The Lilac Time should find lots to love here.
Living Theatre is out tomorrow via Trouble in Mind Records.
More details on Olden Yolk via the band's official Facebook page.
[Photo: John Andrews]