tUnE-yArDs Go Gangsta

By Jenna Hawkins / September 30th, 2011 in Music / Oakland / 178 views

One of the most unusual and innovative musical ventures to come out of the woodwork in recent times is tUnE-yArDs, whose maniacal way of spelling their name is entirely intentional. After independently releasing the debut album, ‘BiRd-BrAiNs,’ in 2009, the creative mind of New England native Merrill Garbus polished her sound and signed to 4AD.

Fusing lo-fi experimental sounds with R’n'B melodies and layering ukulele, voice, and electric bass with the addition of a saxophone section on latest album, ‘w h o k i l l’, the genre-defying artist adds glimmers of jazz, blues and funk to her latest offering. Garbus’ collaboration with bassist Nate Brenner has been compared to no-wave rebels Sonic Youth, due to their influential sound and the strong visual element that accompanies their music.

Bizness, the first single from their sophomore release,was a colourful exploration into Garbus’ childhood, incorporating dance and highly stylised production. In comparison, Gangsta is a black and white loop-funk, behind the scenes adventure from their latest tour directed by Garbus herself, which plays on light, shadow and movement and particularly how it reacts to the sounds of tUnE-yArDs’ hypnotic sound. The artist with a penchant for tule’s masculine voice echoes and scratches like a modern day Janis Joplin meets PJ Harvey as she and Brenner breakdance in the middle of the street in true gangsta style (albeit a bit awkwardly).