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UZU
Studio album by
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan
ReleasedOctober 29, 2013
RecordedWinter 2012 – Spring 2013
The Glory Hole
Toronto, CA
GenreProgressive rock
Length42:37
LabelPaper Bag Records (CA)
(PAPER 081)
Suicide Squeeze Records (US)
(SSQ 124)
ProducerAlaska B.
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan chronology
YT//ST
(2011) 		UZU
(2013)
Singles from UZU
  1. "One"
    Released: September 12, 2013
  2. "Windflower"
    Released: October 10, 2013
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic79/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
CMJpositive[2]
Consequence of Sound[3]
Exclaim!9[4]
KRCUpositive[5]
No Ripcord6[6]
NOWNNNNN[7]
Paste8.6[8]
Pitchfork7.8[9]
PopMatters[10]
Under the Radar7.5/10[11]

UZU is the second studio album by Canadian experimental band Yamantaka // Sonic Titan.

Release and promotion

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UZU was released on October 29, 2013, through Paper Bag Records in Canada and Suicide Squeeze Records in the US in CD, digital download, and limited edition vinyl formats.[12] The group embarked on a North America tour to support the album upon its release.[13] The band also released music videos for UZU album tracks "One" and "Saturn's Return", respectively.[14][15] The track "Lamia" was featured in the Adult Swim Singles Program 2012 as a free download.[16]

Theme

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The album has been described as more "poignant and human", compared to their last record YT//ST.[17] The Chinese goddess Mazu is said to be the central character of UZU, and is the figure illustrated on the album cover artwork.[17][18] The album is said to follow nautical mythological themes to explore feelings of being "lost and adrift" in the world.[4]

Reception

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Thus far, the album has received mainly positive reviews from music critics. The aggregate review site Metacritic assigned an average score of "79" to the album based on 9 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[1]

In a positive review by Exclaim!, reviewer Melody Lau gave the album a "9" praising the album's vocals as "majestically dramatic" and highlighted the album's cohesiveness, stating "the ten tracks on UZU drift into one another like waves of the narrative ocean..."[4] Paste's Mark Lore also gave the album a high mark, "8.6", lauding the album as "stunning and melodic", commenting "this time around, Attwood’s vocals aren’t lurking beneath the fuzz" and that "[One] best represents the band’s sound and concept".[8]

In a somewhat mixed review, Pitchfork reviewer Joe Tangari gave the album a "7.8" and commented on the album's recording, calling it "a bit hazier" than the group debut album, but reflected positively on the drumming and vocal performances.[9] In mixed review by Consequence of Sound reviewer Adam Kivel, Kivel gave the album three out of five stars, viewing the album as less accessible than their debut album, but praised the album's first single, stating Yamantaka // Sonic Titan are at their best when fusing seemingly disparate elements together like they do on "One"".[3]

NOW named the album No. 1 in its "Top 10 Local albums" and No. 2 in its "Top 10 Albums" end of the year lists.[19]

The album was also included in Wired's "The Most Defining Moments of Music in 2013" end of the year list.[20]

The album is a shortlisted nominee for the 2014 Polaris Music Prize.[21]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Atalanta"2:39
2."Whalesong"5:57
3."Lamia"4:23
4."Windflower"3:24
5."Hall of Mirrors"4:06
6."Sea Sickness, Pt. 1"3:23
7."Sea Sickness, Pt. 2" (Theme from 33)4:54
8."Bring Me the Hand of Bloody Benzaiten"2:45
9."One"5:21
10."Saturn's Return"5:45
Total length:42:37

Personnel

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UZU album personnel adapted from Allmusic.[12]

  • Alaska B. – cover art, drums, electronics, engineer, keyboards, mixing, percussion, producer
  • Ange Loft – vocals, drums, percussion
  • Benoit Morier – engineer
  • Brendan Swanson – vocals, organ, piano, synthesizer, engineer
  • John Ancheta – guitar. bass, engineer
  • Jonas Gilbert – additional vocals on "One"
  • Ruby Kato Attwood – vocals, cover art
  • Ryan Morey – mastering
  • Zea D Poku – additional vocals on "One"

References

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  1. ^ a b "Critic Reviews for UZU – Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  2. ^ Lisa Hresko (November 1, 2013). "Album Review: Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – UZU". CMJ. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Adam Kivel (November 30, 2013). "Album Review: Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – UZU". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Melody Lau (October 29, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – UZU". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  5. ^ Jason Brown (November 14, 2013). "Album Review: UZU by Yamantaka // Sonic Titan". KRCU. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  6. ^ Juan Edgardo Rodriguez (November 21, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan: UZU – Music Review". No Ripcord. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  7. ^ Carla Gillis (October 24, 2013). "YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN". NOW. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Mark Lore (October 29, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan: UZU". Paste. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  9. ^ a b Joe Tangari (November 14, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan: UZU". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  10. ^ Erik Highter (October 27, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan: UZU". PopMatters. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  11. ^ J. Pace (October 28, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan: UZU (Suicide Squeeze) Review". Under the Radar. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  12. ^ a b "UZU – Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Release Information, Reviews and Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  13. ^ Jenn Pelly (September 17, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Share "One" Video, Announce North American Tour". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  14. ^ "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – "One" (Official Video)". Noisey. September 12, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  15. ^ Emilie Friedlander (December 12, 2013). "Video: Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, "Titan and Dione: Saturn Returns"". The Fader. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  16. ^ Gregory Adams (August 20, 2012). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan "Lamia"". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  17. ^ a b Evan Minsker (August 23, 2013). "Update: Yamantaka // Sonic Titan". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  18. ^ Melody Lau (November 10, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Myths and Metaphors". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  19. ^ "Top 10 Local albums Best of 2013". NOW Magazine. December 24, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  20. ^ WIRED STAFF (December 6, 2013). "From Yeezus to Ylvis: The Most Defining Moments of Music in 2013". Wired. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  21. ^ "Arcade Fire, Drake, Shad make Polaris Music Prize short list". CTV News, July 15, 2014.
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