Merrill Garbus is an American songwriter, vocalist, percussionist, and ukulele player who has fused elements of acoustic folk, R&B, funk, Afro-pop, and rock into a bold, uncompromising hybrid all her own – tUnE-yArDs.
Her 2009 debut BiRd-BrAiNs was recorded almost entirely on her own using a handheld Dictaphone in her bedroom. The sophomore album by tUnE-yArDs, Whokill will thrill existing fans of Merrill’s and earn her new ones. Whokill was mostly made in traditional studios in collaboration with (new) bassist Nate Brenner, engineer Eli Crews, and a handful of other musicians. The music benefits from the increased professionalism, but Garbus has not abandoned her lo-fi aesthetic.
Chopped-up African percussion, demented horns, synths and dub stylings dominate an album full of life and imagination.
Buy this if you like Vampire Weekend, Aretha Franklin, Yoko Ono, Micachu and The Dirty Projectors!