Yoin - All Black

Aberdeen based producer and DJ Yoin has recently released the mixtape 'All Black' through Clubtapes.com - along with shows in Moscow and other affiliates of Aberdeen based label Tuff Wax gaining a fair bit of notoriety in the current music scene, I thought it would only be fair to give the tape a wee look at.

Chances are, if you’re reading this you have probably already listened to the mixtape or at least given the video for ‘All Black’ a glance (if not give it a click below) – so consider this more of a discursive analysis than straight up review.

Yoin creates a sound scape that has depth, intricacy and playfulness. Most of the music is held together by off kilter percussion – taking the form of nice sounding 808-style kicks, snaps, pops, hand claps, high-hats, snares and the occasional kettle drum – holding together the scattered synthesizers and samples. The offbeat time signatures keep you on the edge and in a constant state of intrigue.

The mixtape begins with ‘Take’ and ‘Flight’ two fairly short ambient tracks co-created with Moscow based producer OL – a long time collaborator with Yoin. Both recently releasing collaborative tracks through the label Fine Grains which I suggest you check out here. When OL and Yoin work together the sound obviously holds each of their production styles but this completely chilled fuzziness prevails, almost as if a big electric blanket has fallen over the song then filtered through an aquarium. As an intro to the mixtape it serves well although it may set the listener up for a more chilled-out ambient mixtape rather than the tense grime footwerk that it eventually becomes.

Zatoichi is the story of the blind master swordsman set in late Edo period Japan. The track itself is heavily influenced by and largely consists of traditional Japanese percussion and instrumentation which  I can only presume was sampled from one of the films or television shows based upon the lore. It is the marriage of these samples with modern drum loops that creates an interesting dynamic, it builds the song upwards until it comes to a rather odd finish as it falls into a straight sample of some foreign shouting and drumming with a high end reverb whistle.

This bizarreness is then ended with the announcement

“You are now listening to Yoin”

Now I feel the mixtape has really officially began the first three tracks just tasters of what Yoin is capable of, flexing his production muscle before truly starting.

‘Kestrel’ and ‘Buzzard’ are the next two tracks, the names obviously relating to ‘Take’ and ‘Flight’. Both are solid tracks leading into one another very neatly both keeping in with the off rhythm beats and punchy synthesizers, they feel relaxed and playful – Kestrel is punctuated with the cries of what I think is a kestrel (could be an eagle I guess, what am I? an Ornithologist?) and Buzzard with… is that baby gurgles? What? And the pretty catchy bass lines.

It leads to an entertaining Eastbound and Down quote.

'All Black' being the title track of the mixtape and also, I personally feel the best.  

Keeping in with the tight 808 percussion it builds up to a drop, treating us to bubbling and sweeping synthesizers, modulated woodwind instruments, toy glitches and explosive crashes.

It sounds like it shouldn't work but it does.

In respect to the first half of the mixtape it certainly feels like it was leading up to this high point, introducing Yoin’s style and ability, effective use of samples and keeping the listener on edge, waiting for the next quirk.

Here begins a tonal shift as well. The darker synths, utilizing vocals and more aggressive samples – it feels like the mixtape is suddenly taking itself very, very seriously. All the elements are still there from before but now nodding far more to the hip hop and grime styles that Yoin borrows from so heavily.

A certain tension begins.

I said earlier that this mixtape has depth, when I say that I don’t just mean the music production itself sounds deep – I also mean that there is room for analysis.

And one thing I love is analysis. Something to bite off and chew on whilst stroking my chin.

‘Bout U’s sampled vocals give us the hook for the track. The lyrics are distorted and difficult to really perceive

“Never really felt like I do when I do when I’m around you”

melds into

“For you/bout you, baby”

Or

“Fuck you, baby”.

At least it does to my ears.

This gives a certain duality and a narrative to the track. The idea of a loving couple in a bitter argument or a relationship coming to an end, something we could hear or see in any club or on a city street on any given night.

The song is backed by snaps and cutting snares with murky synths. Although at the midpoint we have a high pitched vocal sample that seems to be a rebuttal to the earlier statements. Although the words are pretty much unintelligible until that last part of the track in which we have

“The things in my head”.

Repeated over and over whilst the synths scatter and modulate; the track comes to bubbling crescendo then ends abruptly.

It’s a stirring track, listening to it you feel privy to an argument, a dramatic reconstruction of what must have been a pretty bad night. Perhaps it was simply something a bit therapeutic on the artists part but it’s a track worth a second listen and adds worth to the mixtape as a whole. This kind of suggested narrative would imply that a similar thought process goes into the rest of his songs allowing for deeper analysis (if you’re into that kind of thing).

'T666' is another brooding track although it’s kind of kitsch with Tim Westwood-esque machineguns and shotguns cocking and firing. I presume this isn’t meant to be taken too seriously - but it still keeps a sinister approach with shouts “HEY!” and “BBRRAP!”peppering the arrangement which is why I’d call this probably the most gangster friendly of ‘All Black’ – probably appealing more to a grime demographic.

HAH

Although I presume most of this is tongue in cheek it is probably one of the best arrangements; it feels very full and varied whilst also being a track I imagine would rest well for rap mash-ups and remixes.

A quick Google search reveals T666.com to be some sort of gaming clan website, so maybe this is a love letter to on-line gaming? Or there’s just a whole meta-level I'm not getting here.

‘Yung Money’ is a track in a similar vein to 'T666' more bass led and dominated by another sample this time encouraging us to “Make it rain” – fair enough. 

Another catchy track with Yoin’s production style, although not wildly experimental it’s pleasing to the ear.

The final track Bengali Bandii takes a sudden step away from the darker latter part of ‘All Black’. Almost calling back to Zatoichi as it is again percussively led – again a merging of samples, drum loops and occasional vocals. Yoin takes something rather unique and unusual and manages to make it his own. With Bandii meaning Bandit it’s not too far-fetched to imagine Yoin as this, roaming the internet and radio waves taking what he wants and making it his own.

I just googled it and got this image. Awesome.

It ties up the mixtape quite nicely as it drifts away into hushed distant voices as drums echo.

lol

As a mixtape ‘All Black’ does well to showcase Yoin's skill, ability and experimental ethic along with his high production value. Although the thematic tone changes from song to song can be jarring, it’s to be expected from what is essentially his calling card in the industry - demonstrating his wide and eclectic tastes and how he can implement these into interesting arrangements and pieces.

I’m sort of worried reading this back that maybe I need to get my straw out of the mixtapes ass but even sitting back objectively I can’t think of any real criticism that would go beyond being a matter of taste or slight nit picking – if you have any comments on why you think I’m wrong hit me up in the comments.

‘All Black’ may not be everyone’s cup of grimey electric footwerk tea but it puts Yoin as one to watch, whilst highlighting the rise of musical talent in Scotland - particularly in the Northeast - and the importance of smaller boutique labels such as Fine Grains and Tuff Wax paving the way for progressive, inventive and interesting music in Scotland, the U.K, Europe and beyond.

For more info and news/reviews check out;

Tuff Wax
Fine Grains
Sonic Router
Fact mag
XLR8R

Associated dudes what to fill your eardrums with;

Lockah
BonesandMoney
Grill Cosby
Zubuntu
Jaw Jam
Grobbie
OL