More about: Nilufer Yanya

From the moment the D'n'B percussion at the start of ‘the dealer’ thrusts you into PAINLESS, Nilüfer Yanya has your attention, and rarely does the absorbing world she invites you into allow your mind to wander away over the 45 minutes it runs to. 

We described her as original and dexterous in the review for Yanya's first album Miss Universe, and this description is as apt as any in searching for the right words to capture the Londoner’s genre-defying talents. 

Eschewing the interludes which turned Miss Universe into an 18-track concept album, PAINLESS plays it straight over twelve songs which demonstrate a more cohesive band-like sound than achieved on previous releases. With rock, grunge, indie, synth-pop and electronic among the labels which could be attributed to the twelve tracks, it plays like a compilation, yet the mainly oblique lyrics and Yanya’s unique voice—sometimes wispy, other times husky and even velvety—are a constant which underpin her original sound. 

The complex world of relationships is the central theme of PAINLESS, with Yanya often narrating the helplessness of falling for someone even if logic would push you down a different path. 

The arrival of an acoustic guitar overlay provides some of the most memorable moments on the album—a perky riff on ‘the dealer', reminiscent of Republica’s ‘Ready to Go’, adds some much-needed lightness to the brooding ‘midnight sun' and provides some oomph to the jazzy ‘try’. The overall mood of the music is intricate and alluringly claustrophobic with occasional bursts of light which pick up in number as the album nears its end. 

Opener ‘the dealer’ brings high energy through its bold drums, catchy acoustic guitar and jangly bass, accompanying Yanya’s tale of losing trust in a lover and deciding to end the relationship. ‘L/R’ slinks forward with a funky bassline and Yanya lamenting the unpredictability of a lover. 

‘stabilise’ is an urgent call to escape the drudgery of the concrete confines which loom over London, set to lilting electric guitar and tight drumming. An indie anthem, ‘belong with you’ is bound to become a highlight of her live shows: it's a joyous acceptance of the magnetic appeal of Yanya’s lover. And album highlight ‘midnight sun’ sucks you in with its searching riff which gives way to a chorus chant of "you’re my best machine, you’re my midnight sun, always I did it for you". With this latter track, Yanya pays tribute to someone who was with her during dark times, the overlayed acoustic guitar a glimmer of light in the darkness conveyed. 

The questioning of her role in the relationships chronicled is set to a generally dark, elusive sound though. As the final two songs see Yanya reflecting on her relationship in the past tense, a breezier sound emerges. Closing track 'anotherlife’ has Yanya immersing herself in her new reality, pondering the sliding doors effect of going down this route over a synth-pop soundtrack. 

Each track on PAINLESS has many layers to it. In addition to the Republica reference, I was reminded of Linkin Park’s ‘By Myself’ in ‘L/R’, InMe’s ‘Trenches’ in ‘shameless’, Slipknot’s ‘Circle’ in 'chase me', Radiohead in ‘midnight sun’, Highly Suspect’s ‘My Name is Human’ in ‘company’, Teleman’s ‘Not in Control’ in ‘belong to you’ and Stereolab in ‘the mystic’. Yanya’s songs certainly aren’t as heavy as some of those mentioned and it probably says more about my listening habits than hers, but it demonstrates the texture in PAINLESS that will no doubt draw comparisons with touchstones on each listener’s musical journey. 

The grip Yanya has on the listener perhaps only wanes on the one song, 'trouble', which ventures beyond five minutes-long—but this is a minor consideration in the overall picture. 

PAINLESS is a step forward from the excellent Miss Universe and will delight fans and new listeners alike. It's the kind of album you can listen to on repeat and discover new joys on each listen. An early album of the year contender.

PAINLESS arrives 4 March via ATO Records.

Grab your copy of the Gigwise print magazine here.

More about: Nilufer Yanya