There's A Riot Going On vinyl

'There's A Riot Going On', the fifteenth album from New Jerseyan indie rockers Yo La Tengo, started life in 2015 as a mesh of home recordings, new material and previously unused material from other projects such as their film score work. The effect of this long gestation is audible, it's a sort of kaleidoscopic patchwork of psychedelic soundscapes and calm, warm alt-indie songs that meld together seamlessly (think a slightly more out-there version of fellow Garden State natives Real Estate). The second half of the album is punctuated by more unusual moments, the percussive pseudo-jazz jam of 'Above The Sound', bossa-nova instrumental interlude 'Esportes Casual', and the horizontal ambient doo-wop of 'Forever', amongst others. Nevertheless, the strength of 'There's A Riot Going On' lies in how well it all fits together, whilst quietly showcasing how deft YLT's songwriting hand is.