Ike Yard - 1980- 82 collected [Acute Records - 2006]The post punk period of the early 1980’s gave us some of the most interesting innovative and ahead of thier time bands, that often seem not part of any scene or genre. Ike yard is one such band and this excellent compilation brings together, their one and only album on factory records, along a ep and unreleashed tracks Ike yard were formed in New York in 1979, sadly only were together for four years. Their sound is made up of cold rhythmic electronics, which are scatted with barren bass tones, coarse wasp like guitars, and sinister neon flicker synthesizer’s noise. Added to all this is are barely alive mumbled vocals, like a man wondering the streets after the bombs dropped. You can really hear within their sound, what would develop into techno and IDM, some of this almost sound like a primitive take on Autechre. It quite unlike anyone else of that time or since, I guess the closest is a more uptigh and morbid suicide- but Ike Yard have so much more depth to their sound. This is the sound of peopless subways rushing past, painful white neon that burns your eyes, speeding of information through a million phone lines- people telling a million lies and half truths,the slow clench of technology around mankinds throat. It all still sounds amazingly undated and fresh for the most part. Still murmuring of a cold uncertain future- within machine chatter. It all comes with highly informative booklet covering the bands history. Really a must have item for any one even vaguely interested in any form electronic and rhythmic music. Roger Batty
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