We’ve already hyped up this Fall with the amount of Electro/Industrial artists dropping some of their absolute best work and we’d be remiss if the great I Ya Toyah wasn’t included on this list with one of the coolest sounding records of the year in DRAMA.
There’s lots to love about DRAMA and if you’re an Industrial fan already then as an added bonus you get to hear the smooth production work (Alongside I Ya Toyah) from none other than Stabbing Westward’s Walter Flakus for what has turned out to be a magical pairing. I Ya Toyah continues to be an artist that is unrelentingly compelling from both the sounds and sights with songs that are undeniably catchy and a visual component that is equally as captivating.
Vocally, I Ya Toyah is almost reminiscent of an R&B songstress wrapped in this Industrial/Electro blanket for a hybrid sound that almost knows no genre at times and on DRAMA, that statement is embodied the moment “Afterlight” shines into existence taking cues from Pop music, Hard Rawk, New Wave, the aforementioned R&B and all things electronic. From there, it’s a sonic odyssey filled with delectable aural delights like “Panic Room” which opened the I am the Fire EP earlier this year followed by the also previously released “Dream Not To Dream” which is a banger no matter where it lands in the album with throbbing beats ready for the dance floor and soaring, massive verses and choruses that hearken back to the ’80’s and artists like Real Life and A Flock Of Seagulls.
The title track is a humming, buzzing anthem showing off I Ya Toyah’s glorious vocal range from whispered tones to sweeping, ethereal harmonies while “Denial” is a cool cucumber that’s a thumping, ominous monster with a sound that brings to mind Flakus’ day job (Think “Drugstore” or SW’s “Torn Apart” collaboration with Wink for Spawn). “Hello, Hello?” is electronic ecstasy in the vein of Madonna’s Ray Of Light with the title track from that EP released in April, “I Am The Fire”, coming like a shot of adrenaline deep in the record.
“Caves” is another highlight of I Ya Toyah’s vocal talents and an overall cinematic feel in the vein of The Fifth Element with the piano-like lines as I Ya Toyah inhabits the role of The Diva here. “Fraud” is anything but as propulsive programmed beats and haunting synths creating a wistful atmosphere complete with Dubstep-style breakdowns and more larger than life choruses before “Crashing Comet” crashes the party with the most fitting finale and I Ya Toyah’s unmistakable voice taking a final bow amidst big beats off an even bigger album.
DRAMA happens on October 4th through Femme Fatale Records and you can pre-order your copy now when you head here or to the stream below. For more from I Ya Toyah, including all the news on upcoming tour dates and more, follow the socials across the interwebs by heading here, here, or here.