Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever

Austin’s Yellow Fever are clearly involved in time travel. There is a certain something, a certain je ne sais quoi, beyond the sparse, restrained sounds of bands associated with the British post-punk/Rough Trade style of 1980 that separates Yellow Fever from other retro-inspired bands. From the detached cool of vocalist Jennifer Moore to the big, white spaces separating the plinking guitar and the rattling percussion, Yellow Fever has “it” —whatever it is — by the truck load. “Culver City” manages in its first 60 seconds — with three simple guitar notes and a thunking tom drum — to convey both impending doom and vulnerability with its empty-room tones and Moore’s wistful admonishment: “What she does to you, baby, is all messed up /What she does to you, baby, is all your fault.” Other tracks, like “Psychedelic,” “Donald,” and “Cats and Rats,” are slightly fuller-sounding (even with a single-note bass line) and more whimsical, with double-tracked vocals, lighter lyrics and occasional clanging guitar chords. Perhaps their coolest moment (among many), is their ode to Donovan.  Hmmm. Mellow … yellow fever?

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