‘LAGOS PARIS LONDON’ :THE GENRE-BENDING MAGIC OF YANNIS AND THE YAW

EP REVIEW | YANNIS AND THE YAW – LAGOS PARIS LONDON by Anne Kelly 4/5

The much anticipated debut EP ‘Lagos Paris London‘ from Foals frontman Yannis Phillippakis and the late drumming legend Tony Allen has emerged as an evocative exploration of legacy and nostalgia. Gaining support from Radio 1 (Jack Saunders Hottest Record), hitting the A-list rotations at 6 Music and raving reviews from across the elite of music critics (Guardian, Clash, Dork), there’s a deserving buzz around Yannis and The Yaw and I’m curious to get in on it.

The title ‘Lagos Paris London‘ references the logistical journey of the EP’s recording. Recording in sessions across the three locations ahead of the death of percussion extraordinaire Tony Allen‘s passing in 2020, the unlikely pair first met in Paris in 2016. Alongside Tony’s regular collaborators Vincent Taeger (percussion, marimba), Vincent Taurelle (keys) and Ludovic Bruni (bass, guitar) the two-day session culminated towards the vision for the newly released EP. A few more sessions followed but, like most things, the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown brought any plans to complete the project to an untimely halt. Feeling duty bound to carry the late musicians legacy forward, the Foals front man set to bring the project to life;

“There was an imperative to finish it in a way that I had never felt with another record. There was a deep duty to do it, to finish it as well as possible, and to pay respect to him by getting it out there. Going through some of the drum takes was a moving experience because those recordings were some of the last pieces of music he ever worked on. There’s an eternal quality to these drum tracks, and you feel a continuity of his life and energy through them. He wanted people to hear this, and it’s good to be able to do it for him – but of course it’s slightly bittersweet.” – Yannis Phillippakis

Now that the music which Yannis treasured so closely has been unleashed upon the world, what can be said?

‘Lagos, Paris, London‘ is a credit to Allen’s legacy. Capturing the character of the musicians pioneering afrobeat rhythms interspersed with funk driven psychedelic grooves, the 21 minute EP is a kaleidoscope of culture, carried smoothly by the rich laced tones of Yannis’ distinct vocals. Jumping straight in with an amalgamation of 70’s inspired prog rock in EP opener ‘Walk With Fire‘, the track is full of feel-good, floor-filling energy.

‘Rain Can’t Reach Us‘ touches upon the pairs jazz influences. Loaded with polyrhythms and EDM style ambience, the track builds in intensity to a fruitful fusion of genre bending indietronica.

“We actually referred to ‘Rain Can’t Reach Us’ as ‘The Tornado’ for a long time because it feels like a gale blowing through your house and it’s just cool to hear Tony at the heart of that. There’s a chance it could have become a Foals track, but sharing that idea with Tony made it become this other thing. I think that’s really exciting, it’s like putting in random coordinates, getting in your car and driving and not knowing where you’re going to show up. You could be led anywhere.” – Yannis on Rain Can’t Reach Us

‘Night Green, Heavy Love‘ see’s is a shift in dynamics; opening with a bluesy beating guitar riff, the beat is met by Tony’s hi-hat hiss. That steady beat carries the track throughout and is complimented by a falsetto range from Yannis. ‘Under The Strikes’ is another floor filling groove. Funk driven beats and foot tapping goodness, the track is led by a penetrating salsa rhythm. Shuffling between the distinction of the brass and rich bass notes, I love the shift in dynamics mid way creating a journey of sound which you will want to take time and time again.

The EP ends on new feature track ‘Clementine‘. Probably the most commercial sounding of tracks: at least in my opinion. Retaining the retro fusion of R’nB funk and soul, ‘Clementine‘ evokes an euphoric summer air around it. It’s a little less inspiring than the other tracks but it draws closure on the short but sweet project.

“‘Clementine’ is a slightly lighter shade on the record. I wanted it to feel like a French film from the ‘60s, like a sun-bleached Truffaut film with lots of longing, nostalgia and romance. It’s about the ephemerality of experience, and craving something that’s just out of reach.” – Yannis Phillippakis

A retro fusion of genre from a modern perspective of two polarising creatives colliding, ‘Lagos Paris London‘ is a surprisingly refreshing release for 2024. Yannis has time capsuled the energy of Tony Allen with five unique, technically magic songs worthy of attention. Each track subtly puts Allen’s percussion as the main character every time, which is a credit to the Foals frontman, who refuses to overshadow the drummers involvement.

It will be interesting to see where Yannis takes this project forward. All set to mark Yannis & The Yaw live, the project will then play their first show at Crammerock Festival in Belgium next week before performing in shows in Amsterdam, Paris and London later this month. Joining Yannis on stage will be producers and EP performers Vincent Taurelle (keys, also a previous touring member of Air) and Vincent Taeger (drums, Poni Hoax) as well as Dave Okumu (guitar, The Invisible, who also worked with Tony on the Joan As Police Woman album ‘The Solution Is Restless’) and Seye Adelekan (bass, Gorillaz). Yannis is also set to appear at Rough Trade East on Monday 2nd September for a special in-store signing.

Pick up a signed physical copy of the EP are available from the official Yannis & The Yaw store HERE. Tour info and remaining tickets HERE.

For indie buffs who find pleasure in bands such as the Buena Vista Social Club or those who simply want something to get them moving, then Yannis and The Yaw are definitely worth a listen.

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