On April 13 in the UK and April 14 in the US, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs will release their third album, It’s Blitz!. With strictly no guitars, Nick Zinner’s trademark clunky and erratic axe is replaced by slushy synths and what sounds like syncopated drum machine beats. Where has the sound of the classically lauded Goliath of all power trios gone? Brian Chase’s effortless human beats and Nick’s towering, scratchy guitar have given way to mechanics. Overlaid with Karen O’s usual sultry and stuttery wail, it sounds like classic YYY’s dolled up for the new year, where synths reign and club nights ca$h in. The album art is also lacking in their usual creative hand-drawn mastery. While I’m not impressed by the new track Zero (free download below, or buy it on iTunes on February 24), there’s hope yet. Collaboraters on the album include Kyp Malone and Tunde Adebimpe of TV On The Radio, Lily Allen’s all-star producer Greg Kurtsin and saxophone player Stuart Bogie from the wonderful afrobeat band Antibalas. And of course Dave Sitek produced it (with Nick Launay, who has produced Arcade Fire). Though Spin magazine seems to state that Kyp Malone is disappointingly only playing tambourine on one track. The ten-track album is said to be inspired by Giorgio Morodor, Joy Division and Donna Summer.
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