YAANG at The Jacaranda

The North West’s most fun new band rolls into The Jacaranda this July, fresh off the back of their debut EP No and a place on the NME 100 list.

Remember Woolworths’ pick ‘n’ mix? Yaang’s debut EP feels a bit like that – a chaotic sugar rush that’s about instant hits and guilty pleasures. Not so much genre-hopping as genre-pile-driving, No veers wildly from krautrock hypnosis to jagged art-punk via 80s power ballads. Maybe they’re still finding a sound that fits. Maybe they’ve found many sounds that fit and they want them all. Either way, it’s a blast. No surprise Yaang are racking up critical backing, radio support, and getting sold out venues like The White Hotel bouncing front to back.

Formed when Davey Moore (vocals/sampler) met Oliver Duffy (Guitars/vocals) at the University of Salford, the line up was later completed by Ben White (Ex-Working Men’s Club) on bass duties. In the years since, the Manchester trio have been steadily building a dedicated fanbase, based largely on their reputation for rocket-fuel live shows, sharing local bills with Fat Dog, Getdown Services, Maruja, Mandrake Handshake and Dog Race. But the EP’s introducing them to a much wider audience.

Recorded with Formal Sppeedwear’s Beck Clewlow, No captures their whiplash live energy. ‘Comfort’ opens with gliding synths before kicking into a motorik trance and spiralling guitar work, ‘Billy’ starts with a jokey Guns ‘N’ Roses reference and ends like a pop punk song blasted through a broken karaoke machine. ‘’Til Morning Light’ is a batshit dancefloor banger told from the perspective of a robot learning to let go. And best of all, ‘Speed McQueen’ condenses four songs’ worth of ideas into as many minutes – 80s jangle, fuzzed-up punk, a glammy middle eight, and the most joyous chorus that’s come out of Manchester in years.

It’s messy, maximalist and over the top – but that’s the point. Among a sea of bands who take themselves very seriously, YAANG don’t, prioritising fun over all else. Like Woolies’ pic ‘n’ mix, their grab bag of fizzy highs is chaotic, excessive and – by god – incredibly moreish. Frank Winfield Woolworth would be proud.

This preview is dedicated to the high street retailer Woolworths (1909-2009). Gone, but never forgotten.