“Disappear Here” is the image that this well constructed and thought provoking debut album puts out.
It’s steady saxophone introduction puts you right in the picture, and in luxurious style.
Almost every element, right down to the album cover, assures careful and deliberate artistic decision.
This work by young Glasgow’s LYLO makes for an apathetic, almost despairing commentary on modern middle class living, fluctuating through its highs and lows, exploring its scenes one song at a time with bleak, sterile judgement.
The voice of singer Mitch resonates with Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, carrying elaborate and at times unpredictable vocal lines over a varied temperament of airy guitar and stylistically recorded drums especially in tracks such as ‘Naked Rich’ and ‘Drips’.
His voice is key in setting a melancholic tone required to project the idea of a sort of lost generation, quite relevant in the musical age of today.
This is all accessible on first listen; a praiseworthy achievement.
It’s clear that a generous measure of thought has gone into the recording process as well; in particular, the well-placed piano interlude titled ‘Alone in The Dining Hall’ stands out as a great piece of recording, independent of the rest of the album in its ruggedness, but not so as to disrupt the works continuity.
As a collective the album works extremely well in terms of it’s musicality, with resurfacing saxophone motifs and an awareness of consistency in the mood of the tracks.
The blend of surrealist Tame Impala-esque effects on the guitar and a loose, distanced sound of the vocals and drums distinguishes the forceful and original LYLO sound.
It is a sound one is left wanting more of, however, it is powerful enough that this relatively short LP may be considered complete.
In short, LYLO tick all the boxes for the making of a bright concept album and have produced a strong and absorbing first full-length release.
There is something about it that brings Easton Ellis’ Less Than Zero to mind, its themes cutting deeply into the ideals of the modern Western lifestyle, but in a way that is pleasing to the ears.
For this latter reason it succeeds in being moving and engaging, both emotionally and intellectually besides.
Make sure to lend their previous EP’s – Forever, Spaced & Lylo – for your ears to get a sense of where they’ve come from.
Words: Patrick McCafferty
