Memotone – Tollard

Spring is nearly here and who better to soundtrack the season of rebirth than prolific Bristol-based multi-instrumentalist and nature freak Will Yates aka memotone? 2023 was a breakout year for Yates, who released a set of “Night Tracks” that accompanied a book reading, a self-titled EP for Mika Vainio’s Sähkö, an O.G. Jigg track featured on Time is Away’s Searchlight Moonbeam compilation, a livetape with Soroosh Khavari, and a full-length on NYC’s Impatience. Tollard follows with more of that freak folk, leftfield ambient, dusky jazz, and field recording that we’ve come to know and love from Yates. Highlights include A5 “Door to the Sky,” which is a gorgeous pastoral folk tune built around a simple melody passed around guitar, strings, and flute. Like most of Yates’ tracks, the clever arrangement and atmospheric field recordings give the composition a totally immersive and cinematic feeling; like stepping into and exploring a new world. B4 “Funny to Stay the Same” is another favorite featuring a rare appearance of Yates’ own voice mirrored by a nylon-stringed guitar over a dark, Bristolian groove.

Recommended – Full Listen

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