Where’s My Utopia? is the follow up to the Leeds band’s critically-acclaimed debut record The Overload which arrived in January 2022. The Overload was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize after a slew of positive reviews, national radio playlistings and a placing at #2 in the Official Charts. The new album is a co-production between Yard Act and Gorillaz member Remi Kabaka Jr.
Since first steering their golden Rover into swift public acclaim back in 2020, Leeds quartet Yard Act have become one of the great indie success stories of the decade so far. Along the way, they’ve ticked off milestones ranging from a Number Two chart placing and Mercury Prize nomination for debut album The Overload, to a co-sign from Elton John who joined the band to guest on a string-laden reworking of album closer ‘100% Endurance’.
Yet, whilst the band’s trajectory continuously shot upwards, vocalist James Smith and his wife had also welcomed in a son. And it’s this duelling sense of responsibility and ambition, guilt, love, drive and everything in between that forms the narrative backbone of brilliantly exploratory second album Where’s My Utopia?
Written in snapshots of time between a relentless touring schedule, and produced jointly by the band and Gorillaz’ Remi Kabaka Jr, the quartet’s second act is a giant leap forward into broad and playful new sonic waters. “The main reason that ‘post-punk’ was the vehicle for Album One was because it was really affordable to do, but we always liked so much other music and this time we've had the confidence to embrace it,” James explains. Across the record, influences ranging from Fela Kuti to Ennio Moricone via Spiller’s ‘00s pop smash ‘Groovejet’ make themselves known.
It’s a celebratory palette upon which Smith allowed himself to reach lyrically deeper into himself than ever. Gone, largely, are the outward-facing character studies of yore, replaced with a set of songs that stare fully into the headlights of life, wrangling with the frontman’s own fears and foibles to create a sort of Promethean narrative - but with jokes. “You can commit to the idea that we’re just animals who eat and fuck and then we die, and that’s fine,” he suggests. “But for me, creativity always seems to be the best way of articulating the absolute minefield of what human existence is.”
STAFF COMMENTS
Matt says: It’s not easy to write about Yard Act. You immediately want to find other wry social commentators to group them in with – Mark E Smith, Sleaford Mods, Mike Skinner, Jarvis Cocker - but James Smith is none of these people. Less vulgar and course than Mark or Jason, more poetic than Skinner, and without Cocker’s romantic filter; James Smith tells his tales with both wit and simplicity, highlighting humour in the mundane with incredibly fast and clever prose. “This Is My Utopia“ does however, have its more tender moments: “Down By The Stream” ends with him vehemently chastising school bullies and other abusers; while “Blackpool Illuminations” is a beautiful, personal, heartfelt message to his (recently born) son. They could well end here; but instead gift us one last hurrah via the arms-aloft anthem: “A Vineyard For The North” (which alongside “We Make Hits“ and “When The Laughter Stops“ comprises the album’s big indie-disco hits).
The band possess incredible depth and dimension. From jagged and jovial outbursts to lavish and luxurious orchestrations, sophisticated and structured arrangements seem to encompass more than they should, all with elegance and swagger. There’s sharp call-response vocal quips and jibes between Smith and his bandmates; while intricate, (sometimes) vocodered vocal harmonies, subtle dubs and plunderphonic sample usage a la Avalanches & DJ Shadow all contribute to a very ambitious album which pours out the contents of Yard Act’s hearts for us, the listener to digest and surmise: rock stars aren’t all that different to the rest of us.
TRACK LISTING
1. An Illusion
2. We Make Hits
3. Down By The Stream
4. The Undertow
5. Dream Job
6. Fizzy Fish
7. Petroleum
8. When The Laughter Stops
9. Grifter’s Grief
10. Blackpool Illuminations
11. A Vineyard For The North
