Fade is the 13th album from Yo La Tengo, an amazing fact considering that the band is largely unknown to the mainstream. They played the Velvet Underground in I Shot Andy Warhol, they’ve put out sublime and fantastic records since 1986 and have regularly toured since their formation in 1984. But, ask your neighbor if they like them and they’ll probably stare at you blankly. Yo La Tengo may just be the greatest unsung band still alive and kicking.
Of course, those who do know Yo La Tengo have often had a very intimate relationship with the group. This is a band that, even after touring for almost 30 years, still works the concession stand at their shows selling shirts and merch and chatting with fans new and old. I remember being surprised to find guitarist, Ira Kaplan sitting on the sidewalk in front of a club in San Francisco before an afternoon show. He was reading a book in the sun, but pausing affably to say hello and thank people for their nice words.
On first listen their latest record doesn’t seem to be hiding any big surprises. But, when you take it in for the second and third time you begin to realize that this just might be the most crystalized form of Yo La Tengo — the essence of the band distilled down over the course of all their previous records: the earnest simplicity of May I Sing with Me, the shaggy brilliance of Painful, the noisy onslaught of Electr-O-Pura and so-on, and so-on. Each album getting a little better and little more subtle as they explore the sonic possibilities of this group: a trio of bass, drums and guitar. And keyboards. And shakers. And feedback. Shocklingly brilliant feedback.
The ten songs on Fade are simple, beautiful and sometimes sad. They also sound completely heartfelt and are often uplifting. Many of the songs might come across as an indie-take on ’60s pop rock, tricking you into thinking that this is what it is all about. Then you listen closer and you can hear the history of the band, this particular band and all of their personal back-stories. Listen more closely and you might even hear an (abridged) history of 20th century rock music. Or maybe you’ll simply pick-up on the sweet harmonies between husband and wife, Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley and feel like your eavesdropping on something more personal, something more real.
So, it’s all their on record. Except it’s not. It’s been edited, refined and carefully curated. This is a band in their prime playing with the wisdom of experience, knowing just the right notes to play, just the right tone to strike and just the right amount of time to play.
Yo La Tengo premiered two songs from Fade on Jimmy Fallon, the single Ohm, with extra percussion assistance from Portlandia’s Fred Armissen, and a slowed down version of I’ll Be Around (shown below) that shows the band in complete and subtle control. They still got it.
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