YVES KLEIN BLUE – Ragged & Ecstatic

WEDNESDAY, 08 JULY 2009
(Dew Process/Universal)

An indie-pop debut set to soar
The fervently anticipated debut album from lovely Brisbane indie boys Yves Klein Blue (with a silent ‘s’, please) has finally materialised. After spending three months at Fairfax Studios in North Hollywood recording with Kevin Augunas (Cold War Kids), the group of four have produced a clever and joyous album, and a debut set to buoy them upwards and onwards. Each indie-pop song leaps out spinning, dancing and tripping, with intelligent lyrics and charmingly catchy tunes. The two most recognisable songs, Getting Wise and Polka, are great for a weekend jive and remain favourites despite the considerable exposure they’ve received in recent months. Other standouts include Soldier, a contemplative number that states “When I’m a grown man I only hope I don’t forget / Exactly how I feel right now in this moment”; and Digital Love, a slightly darker grunge and bass-infused reflection on methamphetamine use. Frontman Michael Tomlinson cites this album as being about life and how we each fit in, so it’s no surprise they drew inspiration from Jack Kerouac’s line “It’s the ragged and ecstatic joy of pure being” when deciding on a title. The album is full of unashamed romanticism, with lamentations of love, life and memories abounding, such as in Summer Sheets: “Oh, I know I’m being forward, that’s not like me / But it’s not often in life you look into two eyes / That make you forget everything”. This is a sophisticated, entertaining and spirited album that sets a pleasingly high precedent for debuting indie groups everywhere.

[Four Stars]

NINA ATKINSON

taken from: http://www.ravemagazine.com.au/content/view/16003/180/