I mentioned in my last post how things just fall into place. I was talking to a colleague this week about a Cardigans record called Super Extra Gravity and how much I rate both it and them in general. So, so underrated. I know they had at least one gigantic success of an album here, but that really doesn’t do them justice at all. It’s all about those last two records. But that’s a story for another time though. Naturally the stars aligned and several days after talking about them, while doomscrolling into oblivion, I happened upon a clip for ‘Domino (Punk)’ by Izzie Yardley. To say it could be a Cardigans song is of course a disservice, because it’s totally its own thing (and comparing music is kinda stupid and reductive) but bloody hell, close your eyes and it could be an amazing Cardigans song. I stand by it.

I’ve covered a couple of Izzie Yardley’s songs on here before, both of which I thought were utterly spellbinding, but this one caught me completely off guard. The raw production of it, with the ragged electric guitar calling to mind A Ghost Is Born-era Wilco, and Yardley’s immediately disarming and pure voice… it’s just wonderful. She has a really interesting way with melody, a distinct Englishness* to her delivery, and the hook in the chorus is the kind that nags at you throughout the day. I’ve been trying to do some assessment at work over the last couple of days and all I’ve had in my mind is “hold me like you know me well…”

It’s a great song full-stop, and one which takes a really surprising and luscious turn around the halfway mark. Just when you think you know where you are and where it’s going. It’s the kind of detour that you can quite easily get lost in. Anyway, the song is taken from her forthcoming Ethan Johns-produced debut album, Diving The Unknown, which is due out in July. I’m very much looking forward to hearing it. This is brilliant. She’s brilliant.

*not the bad kind.