Yndi Halda

The band seem to be such lovers of post-rock kings Godspeed You! Black Emperor that the font of their name is scrawled in the same style. Well, the similarities keep coming but in ways that make this UK band enjoyable but hardly original or necessary. With masterful post-rock bands like Explosions in the Sky and Mogwai finding new inspiration in brevity, Yndi Halda’s epic-length songs feel tired from the very start. Take closer "Illuminate My Heart, My Darling!,” which has the ringing guitars and crashing climaxes but sounds anaemic. You can’t punish a band for not capturing their sound correctly but other post-rock bands have been able to catch their lightning in a bottle. Good post-rock stuns due to the expanse and sheer pummelling intensity, which Bliss lacks. But that’s not to say Yndi Halda aren’t good musicians. The levels of composition and orchestration achieved here for such young kids are amazing. Things come together in beautiful, subtle ways but it’s been done before and better. Lovely stuff but hardly essential.