Yeti Season

Description

After the release of *Adult Themes* in 2020, which was intended as the soundtrack to an imaginary film, El Michels Affair is back with a new album, *Yeti Season*, which takes us in a different direction with new inspirations, including a dose of Turkish funk and an almost Mumbai-esque approach to soul. The first track, "Unathi," features the magnificent voice of Piya Malik, a member of the group 79.5. With her Hindi singing, Piya asks us to fight together for progress. Even without understanding the language, the urgency of the message seems evident. The singer, who had a vital influence on this record, appears on three other songs on the album, "Zaharila," "Murkit Gem," and "Dhuaan." Shannon Wise of The Shacks also makes an appearance on the melodic and hypnotic "Sha Na Na." Between Shannon's ethereal vocals, the nervous bassline, and the incisive drum gimmick, the track sounds like an introspective walk after a strangely dramatic night. *Yeti Season* is perhaps more of a feeling than a place or a time. It's a hopeful record that suggests the best is yet to come. We hear it in "Ala Vida" with its atmospheric brass soundscapes, or in "Fazed Out," which leaves us with a strong sense of determination; its marching structure could accompany a conquering army. A stubbornness that must come from the fact that the album was finalized by Leon Michels and his band during lockdown, a particularly difficult period. Perhaps it took a year like 2020 to find hope in a wintry creature with big hairy paws like the Yeti!