Motorpsycho – Yay! | soundsfromthedarkside

Motorpsycho is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.

Or let’s kick off critically, because when it comes to the Trondheim-based band we do know we can expect a yearly dump of new music. Also in the past five years or so we know much of the releases consist of sprawling heavy prog rock (Gullvåg trilogy 2017-2020) or epic odes to the powerful psych rock of the 1970s. On this year’s offering Yay! Hans Magnus Ryan and Bent Sæther however do truly surprise by breaking away from the previous years and now deliver a summery acoustic folk rock album. With music from The Tubs and Ghost Woman already out there summer solstice parties just became even more festive. On the other hand is this the Motorpsycho we want to hear? Let’s dig in.

Yay! bursts with an array of flavours, much like its colourful cover art and musically again draws inspiration from 60s and 70s. Elements of acoustic folk rock reminiscent of Led Zeppelin’s substyle, as well as the dreamy and spiritual prog rock of bands like Yes shine throughout the album while that band also blends in their own Britpop phase from the mid-90s. The album features diverse tracks such as the two-sided Cold & Bored, which starts off as a simple acoustic song but also mixes through an airy Mediterranean vibe. Sentinels takes a mostly instrumental approach while Dank State brings a catchy singalong atmosphere. This lighthearted pop-format comes forth on several of Yay!’s songs. W.C.A. ’s delicate melody and percussion or the summery finale The Rapture serve as good examples.

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To us Yay!’s best song is Hotel Daedalus which also happens to be the sole rocker on the album. As it partly draws inspiration from the psych rock age, Hotel Daedalus is the only handhold we have to last year’s Ancient Astronauts and what came before. This, together with the acoustic pop songs and the melancholic ballads of Loch Meaninglessness & the Mull of Dull and Real Again (Norway shrugs and stays at home) shape this 2023 release.

In conclusion, Motorpsycho’s Yay! once again showcases their ability to evolve and surprise. This time a thorough change of course seemed inevitable since drummer Tomas Järmyr left and the band started showing signs of being stuck in the process of outdoing themselves. A less epic work therefore is a breather. Yay! thus represents a welcome departure from their previous experimental and heavier albums. Nevertheless we also have to say that in a box of chocolates there are always a few chocolates that don’t live up to your taste. Alas Yay! is among them and although we still give it a fair chance to grow upon us this one is far from an instant buy.