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Glasgow’s ultra-prolific improvisational multi-instrumentalist, Richard Youngs, has collaborated with the likes of Jandek and Matthew Bower while making a name for himself as a solo artist. Regions of the Old School is his first solo double LP, making a worthy addition to a rather extensive catalog.
“Insomniac Takeover” opens with 15-and-a-half minutes of incessant percussion, guitar feedback and synth noise, with Youngs desperately chanting “Another sleepless night” over and over until the insomniac’s agony becomes insanity. It’s a painful listen of truly feel-bad music that leaves the listener exhausted, begging for the welcome relief of the following track, “Another Zonal Air.” Here, Youngs delves into Faust and Richard Pinhas territory with a synth-driven meandering propelled by chiming percussion. “Celeste” features Madeleine Hynes on vocals, though you can’t tell through the mainpulation, high-end frequencies and sparse beats, which continue into “The Thoughtlife,” a sprawling shamanistic epic of blips, beeps, beats, shakuhachi flute and Youngs’ and Neil Campbell‘s dueling synthesizers. Finally, “My Love Holds the Galaxy In Her Heart” ends it all on an extremely high note with the album’s heaviest track. Youngs’ vocals recall the distant sadness of Jandek, while the frantic drumbeat, pulsing synth and noisy guitar incorporate the influence of Matthew Bower and Skullflower. It’s pure explosive psychedelia, an uncomfortable listen for some, but bliss for others, and a perfect ending to a magically diverse collection of music.
If you’re already familiar with Richard Youngs, you know what you’re in for, but if you’re not, get ready for a unique journey through moods, colors and vibrations, a sonic painting in three-dimensional space. It’s quite a gas.
