Somehow, we here at Soundsphere have yet to post any music by Leeds-based four-piece Yard Act, who blew up massively last year with the release of excellent Mercury Prize-nominated debut LP The Overload. Speaking for myself, they’re becoming my favourite of Britain’s current indie class and their five-night stand at Brudenell Social Club back in April was an immensely fun time. During one of their between-song bants breaks, vocalist James Smith admitted, with characteristic irony-drenched self-effacement, a slight worry in following up that first album. If this week’s new single is any indication, he and the band can rest easy. They’ve got this covered.
“The Trench Coat Museum” is the first fully new Yard Act single since January 2022 and, folks, it’s a barnstormer. Across eight minutes, the track metamorphoses from a DFA-style take on the cheeky post-punk of songs like “Rich” to an uber-funky dancefloor filler with Soup Dragons-esque sample and scratching collages that stretches its legs like a !!! number. Co-produced by frequent Gorillaz affiliate Remi Kabaka Jr., Smith equates his newfound rise to fame with the history of the trench coat which has become a part of their image, eventually giving way to an admission that “when they get to the final exhibition that celebrates my good name/I want you to be on display too/Cause all that really remains of me is You.” That’s when the strobe synths, guitar squeals, and percussion sections take over and I’m sat here grooving like an idiot in my office chair.
There’s also a video which, in typical Yard Act fashion, has droll humour, narrative callbacks to other vids, and in-jokes a-plenty surrounding the choreographed dancing. Directed by James Slater, you can watch it below.
“The Trench Coat Museum” is out now via Zen FC. Hopefully an album isn’t long behind.
Words: Callie Petch
