Tradition and technology collide in the opening moments of James Yuill’s Turning Down Water for Air, a 12-song bedroom-pop set that’s been earning raves in Yuill’s native England since last fall. Leadoff track “You Always Do” begins with the familiar sound of an acoustic guitar – which is then pushed and pulled by what sounds like a defective tape head, thus setting the tone for the album’s overall aesthetic, which mashes up old-school, analog-driven new wave pop with mopey British folksinger confessionals. It’s an uneven mix, but when it works – as on “No Pins Allowed,” which kicks off with a NIN-esque burst of industrial noise before giving way to a gently surging melody over a dance beat that vaguely suggests something New Order might have done, or “No Surprise,” which rides a circular synth pattern and kalimba-sounding percussion around the edges of a classically monochromatic new wave melody – the album is positively entrancing. Next time out, Yuill could stand to write a few more standout tracks, but for a debut effort, Water ain’t bad – this is a songwriter who’s on to something. If you’ve ever wondered what Nick Drake might have sounded like with a skinny tie, be sure to check this out. (Nettwerk 2009)
