Gold & Youth - "Beyond Wilderness"

Artist: Gold & Youth 

Album: Beyond Wilderness

Label: Arts & Crafts

Release Date: May 14^th, 2013

Review By: Sean Kayden

Debut records are difficult to critique. With the hope and promise of a long lasting career, many buzzed bands fizzle out after an album or two. I hate when expectations are so high after hearing a new band’s single and only to find out the rest of the record pales in comparison. This next band is one I was worried about despite hailing from the Arts & Crafts label, which houses such wonderful acts like Broken Social Scene, Feist, Eight and A Half, and Bloc Party. After a name alteration and line-up change, Gold & Youth was rebranded when they dropped their first single “City of Quartz,” a song dripping in 80s pop. It was brooding pop tune, at least for the first three-fourths of the way. It quickly turned into a more polished, expansive song toward the last minute or so. After months of delay, the long awaited debut album from Canadian synth-rockers, Gold & Youth has finally been bestowed upon us. “Beyond Wilderness” is the creation of Matt Lyall (lead vocals, guitar, keys and bass), Louise Burns (vocals, bass and keys), Murray McKenzie (guitar, keys and backing vocals), and Jeff Mitchelmore (drums). The thing that makes Gold & Youth different than their synth-pop peers is how their record is fully engaging, bold, and mature. While veteran snyth-rockers Phoenix and newcomers Youngblood Hawke may get all the attention in 2013, there’s an intrinsic exuberance found in Gold & Youth that shouldn’t be ignored. 

“Beyond Wilderness” is ambitiously modern regardless of roaming through the likes of 80s synth rock. What is even more amazing is that just about every subsequent track feels different than the one before. “Quarters” has this sunny and warm atmosphere going on for it. The last minute is reminiscent of something found on a Broken Social Scene record. “Tan Lines,” a true standout, boasts understated guitars, softened snyths, and powerful choruses. This is the song to identify summer with as soon as it arrives. “Daylight Colours” demonstrates tropical guitars, ultra chill vibes, and supreme catchiness. “Little Wild Love” is a menacing, moody tune and while it criminally sounds like a cut off some Depeche Mode record, it’s still pretty darn good.

There are a few mishaps along the way with “Beyond Wilderness.” The dreadful “Cut Lip,” which features barely audible vocals is a dream-like song, but plays more like a nightmare you desperately want to wake up from. “Jewel” is a little too much 80s for its own good. It features the vocals of Louise Burns, which is nice change of pace, but the jarring vocal change makes this song seemingly just a plain old filler. Luckily, there’s a song like “Young Blood” to crank up the energy once again. It should be the go to song for any club looking for something different to play on the dancefloor. Many newcomers exercising their musical aptitude in synth-pop seem to create the same ten or eleven songs on their brand new record. I’ve already vocally expressed this genre to be an overcrowded arena, but with “Beyond Wilderness,” Youth & Gold are doing something intoxicatingly refreshing. It’s a pleasant surprise to find exceptional depth and profundity to a record of this nature. While it may not be a perfect album, this rather striking debut record wields both high energy and a mature sound that’s rare to find working hand in hand with one another.

Grade: 7.9 out of 10

Key Tracks: “Quarters,” “Tan Lines,” “Daylight Colours,” “Young Blood”

Published by Mountain Views News on June 1st, 2013
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v07/htm/n22/p15.htm