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Music

Yeasayer

Yeasayer with Reptar at the Phoenix (410 Sherbourne), Tuesday (July 2). $18. SS, RT, TM.


Before Yeasayer go dark this September and return to the studio, they’re touring last year’s Fragrant World (Secretly Canadian) one final time.

The album had a polarizing effect on fans and critics: where are all the pop hits that made their previous album, Odd Blood, so damn catchy?

“I think we are, to a point, influenced by trends. There’s a delicate line. You don’t want to get sucked into it so much that you’re just riding a fad,” says bassist Ira Wolf Tuton from his home.

Accordingly, instead of making another straightforward, shiny pop record, the Brooklyn-based trio took a different approach: like so many other indie acts of late, they amped up the electronics.

It makes sense. Yeasayer have dabbled in everything from psychedelic freak folk to synth pop.

Although Tuton says he doesn’t listen to a lot of modern music – he’s in the middle of rediscovering his old CD and tape collections – he cites contemporary artists like witch house producer Balam Acab and Gold Panda as influences.

But don’t expect the next Yeasayer album to go hard-out EDM.

“I kind of feel like electronic music has descended into this pit of despair and now it’s car commercial music.”

A little harsh, especially from a band who’ve had a song on 90210. But you get the feeling that Yeasayer derive pleasure from borrowing the best from other genres – even if that means alienating a few fans.

“We’re not a band that needs to make the next number-one hit. That’s never been what we’re about and it doesn’t seem like where we’re going.”

music@nowtoronto.com | @nowtoronto

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