Yttrium – ‘Misunderstood Bliss’ from the album “HANA”

Yttrium, an instrumental funk-rock duo, emerged on the music scene in 2020, courtesy of the prodigious talents of bassist Dani B and guitarist Vinícius Andrade. The name of the band derives from the illustrious chemical element, yttrium, whose properties bear an uncanny resemblance to the sound they produce – unique, lustrous and highly crystalline. Their self-produced debut album, “HANA,” was unleashed on digital platforms on June 10th, 2022, marking a milestone in their career. However, the journey to this juncture was not without its challenges.

It all started in June 2020 when Dani B embarked on a jam project and sought out Vinicius Andrade, a recent collaborator, to join forces. What began as an experiment turned into something more significant when Dani sent Vinicius a demo of his original track, “Monochromia,” which Vinicius embraced with enthusiasm.

Despite the initial hiccups during the recording sessions, particularly with “Monochromia,” their hard work and perseverance paid off, and they emerged with another gem of a song, “Passage,” which further fueled their collaboration. Powered by the success of their partnership and their shared love for funk-rock, Yttrium was born, and they began composing more songs, laying the foundation for their debut album.

Yttrium’s music is heavily influenced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, a band that has left an indelible mark on both Dani and Vinícius. However, their sound transcends genre boundaries, encompassing elements of metal, jazz, electronica, and lo-fi, to create a sonic universe that is uniquely their own. Their 10-track album, “HANA,” is a testament to their musical prowess, highlighting their talents as songwriters, musicians, and producers.

The genre-defying nature of Yttrium is sustained throughout the album, with elements of funk, jazz, fusion rock, and so much more, amalgamating to produce a distinctly contemporary soundscape. There is even an acoustic driven vocal track in the form of “L.N” present on the recording. The album opens with “Cheesecake Tapes”, and there’s no room for a slow build here as listeners are taken straight into the hardcore Yttrium funk zone.

A heavy bassline throughout is strengthened by rocky percussion, which accompanies an impressive collection of fiery overdriven guitar riffs and solos that unfold in infectious style. The staggered basslines continue to impress on “Panic Attack,” accompanied by a fusion backdrop, and loudly chiming guitars. This brings us to the overdriven crunch of “Passage” which transitions between shimmering guitar strums and dirty, echoing bombast.

Next up is the acoustic Spanish guitars of “Plumas Negras” and then the wailing leads of “Late Nights”. This is followed by the thumping electro- jam of “Lights Of The City,” and the epic “Monochromia,” which runs for six and a half minutes.

This latter track is built on reverberating basslines, twisting synths and sapient lead guitar motifs. The arrangement is both expansive and meandering, allowing for many creative instrumental flourishes. Yttrium’s elevated mastery is most apparent through the synergy of the fat bass notes and the rock heavy guitars.

This brings us to the aforementioned acoustic vocal track, “L.N,” before transitioning to fast-paced groove of “Misunderstood Bliss,” and the languid album closer, “Sunrise Transmission,” which is awash with more acoustic strums, electronic beeps and echoing effects. Overall, Yttrium’ is about as engaging as an instrumental duo of this nature can be. They deliver slamming grooves, technical wizardry, and abundant ear candy throughout this album.

In conclusion, Yttrium’s emergence on the music scene has been nothing short of remarkable. Their dedication to their craft, their unwavering commitment to their vision, and their willingness to push boundaries have earns them a place in the pantheon of instrumental music’s most exciting new acts. With “HANA” as their calling card, Yttrium’s future looks bright, and we can’t wait to see where their musical journey takes them next.