2013 could have been the year Yuck faded into obscurity. After a strikingly good debut self-titled album in 2011, Yuck had become one of the bands to watch coming out of the UK. But, their lead singer Dan Blumberg abruptly left the band for a solo career. The band regrouped, with guitarist Max Bloom taking on lead singer duties. Few bands survive losing their lead singer and continue on with the same sound. Fewer still will put out a follow up album as solid as Glow and Behold. Yuck play the droning, melodic style of post-punk similar to the shoegaze movement, like My Blood Valentine, and the morose new wave style of The Cure. Glow and Behold is a showcase of the melodic and wan style of shoe-gaze, but often seems almost happy in places. The album peaks with the shimmering "Memorial Fields" and the poppy "How Does it Feel", which adds some Burt Bacharach horns into the mix. One of the best in shoegaze this year and a welcome addition to the growing field of new bands adopting this style.
