Yeah Yeah Yeahs finally return, nine years on from the mixed reception of the Mosquito album. Once again working with producer Dave Sitek on several tracks, at just 8 songs at 32-minute run time, Cool It Down could be looked at as a glorified EP. “Spitting Off the Edge of the World” features Perfume Genius, it’s dissonant synth and spare drumbeat made it a highlight single of the year.
Several tracks have sparse instrumentation with Karen O’s soulful voice coming through. Second single “Burning” has a housy piano, synth stings in the chorus as she sings “whatcha gonna do when you get to the water?”. “Blacktop” is slower, with a distinctive drumbeat that could go on hours. “Different Today” is another highlight with a transistor radio vocal effect whereas “Wolf” amps up the synths in a climatic chorus. With guitarist Nick Zinner and drummer Brian Chase, this not the rough and ready guitar band of the early noughties. Instead, Cool It Down sees YYY push their sound into a further dark electronica world.
7/10
The Light Appears 