After releasing the single ‘Under My Wing' in January, this duo from Montreal have dropped their newest album, Down Time. Taking a stand against what they deem a growing culture of “exploitation and conservatism” within the industry, Young Galaxy have boldly cut their troop in half, ditched their old record label and gone fully independent to produce a new wave of brooding sounds from the comfort of their own close to home one-room studio.
With long-term life partners Stephen Ramsay and Catherine McCandless being left to valiantly sail forward, the band has changed tack. Exhibiting the natural state of flux that many artists go through as they adapt to the ever-evolving musical climate, the moody euphoric tone making up the bulk of this newest album is a far cry from the catchy carefree synthpop that characterised their older work. Like the creations of many young artists, Down Time is an impassioned attempt at dealing with the emotional turmoil of living among the current unstable socio-economic climate of nationalism and neoliberalism, exploring themes of transgression, intimacy and desire.
Album-opener 'Under My Wing', with its swirly synth and steady beat behind McCandless’ obscured vocals seductively lures the listener in, leaving them dry-mouthed and hungry for more. Track 2 ‘Seeing Eye Dog’ indulges this hunger, playfully towing the listener along to the exotic - feeling track 3 - ‘Catch Your Breath’. Whilst track 4 ‘Show You the Valley’ somewhat less-seductively boarders on etherial wailing, track 5 reintroduces a constant undulating electronic rift that pauses for breath with a series of drawn out, undecipherable vocals. The crescendoing flow developed in the first half of the album is fittingly cut short with album highlight- 'Frontier', a track which tentatively builds up an empty, yet tense ambience until punctured by McCandless’ dark and sensual vocals. The final four tracks are interspersed with bubbly electronics and soft vocals and up the tempo once again. Whilst ‘Devotion’ feels somewhat out of place and more reminiscent of the chirpier sounds of Young Galaxy in times gone by, ‘Elusive Dream’ finishes us off with more emotionally-charged lyrics against a backdrop of the now-familiar dark bass and atmospheric synth.
This album marks a reinvention not to be missed. As insinuated by the album title, Down Time makes the perfect soundtrack for your wind-down on a tiresome Monday evening, unapologetically leaving you lost in a cloudy state of reflection.
Words: Daisy