This gem of a debut album from Brisbane indie rockers Yves Klein Blue is varied, infectious, and earnest. Ragged and Ecstatic is inspired by all of life’s aspects, both trivial and momentous, becoming a musical melting pot of human experience and emotion. The lyrics are often clever and somehow down to earth, and the music is upbeat, fun, and tinged with ‘90’s cheese synth. The record is peppered with slower rock ballads that manage to remain intense, and furiously appealing.
Standout tracks include singles, ‘Polka’, and ‘Getting Wise’. ‘Polka’ is, despite being inspired by front man Michael Tomlinson seeing a friend vomit on his girlfriend’s shoes after taking too many pills, a fun crowd-pleaser. ‘Getting Wise’ is a strong track, sure to get you singing along to the lyrics stuck in your head, as Tomlinson sings, “you’ll soon find it’s no fun to have fun all the time!” ‘About the Future’ is a sweet, languid, folk/punk infused track with heart and wit. The song is a musing on finding your way, and making sense of the world and those around you, “What this generation needs is a war/ but it’s hard to choose a side when you don’t know which is right/ because all my friends are frustrated, boring or bored”.
Ragged and Ecstatic is not without social commentary: ‘Reprise’ is a punk/rock-inspired ballad statement on racial intolerance and inequality within society and Celebrity Death is a chilling ballad, a statement on the nature of celebrity and the media. “They only wanted to see if your eyes shine like in the films of yours/ because they only want to believe that they mean well themselves.”
Review by Anna Angel
Ragged and Ecstatic out now through Dew Process.
Check out the video below for the song 'Getting Wise'.
