To create his seventh LP - and first for James Holden’s Border Community (Luke Abbott, RocketNumberNine) - Leafcutter John drew inspiration from his personal history. The genesis of Yes! Come Parade With Us came when the one born John Burton took a trip to Norfolk, where he had been an art student in the 90’s, in 2017. Once there Burton took it upon himself to walk the 60-mile Norfolk Coast Path, making field recordings along the way and using the time, space and landscape to find inspiration. Once back in his London studio he called on Tom Skinner (Hello Skinny), Sebastian Rochford (Polar Bear) and a modular synthesiser to help him put together the record.
Given that it was conceived in the great outdoors, it’s no surprise that Yes! Come Parade With Us is a record full of fresh and optimistic tracks. The sounds that Leafcutter John coaxes from his electronics here all have a charming positivity to them. Arpeggios, morning-phase pads, fairground vamps and whirring lead lines are just some of the tones that make an appearance. The air of kitschy irreverence that pervades the record gives it something of a Ghost Box flavour.
Skinner and Rochford help knit this thing together. The pair’s dextrous playing provides a sturdy platform from which Leafcutter John can grow each track into vivid, shimmering compositions. The manner in which samples, synths and keys blend on some of Yes! Come Parade With Us’ grander moments is reminiscent of The Gasman and early Four Tet.
It’s rare to find an artist as seasoned as Leafcutter John still creating music of such vigour. Yes! Come Parade With Us is the sort of album that improves your day, any day.
