Yard Act – ‘Fixer Upper’
“I’ve just moved into the area, yeah, that big thing over the road. It’s a fixer upper though”.
Without context, we all know immediately who Yard Act are on about. In their latest single ‘Fixer Upper’, his name is Graeme and we follow his adventures in home renovations. He’s “not bad man at heart, he just sincerely believes he’s from a country and generation that achieved the apex of everything so therefore can’t ever be wrong about anything.” vocalist James Smith explains. Smith is able to create this character and make him real with the first-person conversation-like vocal delivery.
Much like Yard Act’s critically acclaimed debut ‘Trappers Pelt’, ‘Fixer Upper’ is a sonic adventure in minimalism and gritty realism with sarcastic overtones similar to The Fall and Sleaford Mods. There’s also a hint of LIFE here too with the dance beat drums and the simple piercing guitar riff.
If Yard Act aren’t already on your radar, then they need to be. Despite only forming last year, they have already made quite the impression, and can only get better.
Words by Matthew Brocklehurst