Self-styled as “spy pop,” Evasion is the new album from indie and neo-psychedelia project Y is Nature.
By Graeme Smith
In an early indication of the album’s experimental style, it starts with an Interlude. The gentle, neoclassical instrumental feels lullaby-esque as it introduces the album, before it slowly builds to a dramatic crescendo which bleeds into Transition. The album’s second track instantly changes tone, giving us soft acoustic guitar and compelling vocals.
Evasion is, of course, inspired by the soundtracks of spy thrillers like North by Northwest and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. Y is Nature takes that aesthetic and adds a pop sheen to it all creating what they like to think of as a new genre. Personally, I haven’t heard much like it, so they may well have done.
“My goal was to capture a specific mysterious vibe—something cinematic and theatrical,” explains project leader, the Danish, Oslo, Norway-based Hjalmar Littauer. “After reading John le Carré and having D’Angelo’s Really Love stuck in my head for weeks, I started building the idea of a mashup: Spanish guitar layered over swing-based rhythms, all within the framework of a scenic spy-thriller universe with a modern twist.”
Under the cinematic bombast is a personal story for Littauer. “To me, Transition is partly about a spy hiding in a forest pond and partly about daring to break out of one’s comfort zone—to step forward and let one’s voice be heard,” he explains. “As a middle child, I’ve always been a little shy and struggled with taking up space. At times, both in and outside of work, I feel like a kind of spy—observing and gathering information without stepping forward. Humility has its pros and cons, and through this project, I try to challenge that side of myself.”
Take Care of Me is beautifully haunting, with a not so subtle nod to John Barry’s The James Bond Theme (which is reinforced later by Trouble.) Aside from spy thrillers, Littauer is also inspired by Portishead and you get that same kind of eerie lushness here. Beth Gibbon’s imitable vocals made him want to work with female singers and Ronja Katrin Larsen and Tuva Svendsen Hesmyr were brought in for this project.
As the album progresses, it gets edgier, Pink Moccasins provides a mid-record highlight thanks to its electronic textures, captured audio, disco elements and sense of mysterious whimsy. Lonesome Disco smoulders with a moody groove. Mission brings a sci-fi undercurrent and a rich ambience. The Fool closes the album with a pulsating beat and touches of folksiness. It’s a final highlight.
I simply adore Y is Nature’s new album. It has a distinct point of view, plenty of variation in its compositions, and is easy to get lost in. It’s a must-listen.
Evasion is out now and you can give it a listen below.