Review by J1 Reporter Alaina Kroll

Based in South Africa, Yellow House is a band with nothing short of a unique sound. Consisting of a single member named Emile van Dango, its music genre is hard to put a finger on. Although he only has two albums, he has a number of EPs and singles, and they all vary widely from folk to R&B.

His second studio album, “Psalms of Yellow House”, was released on June 28, 2024, and consists of eight tracks all with different sounds and messages. His range is evident, with each of the songs having a different vibe and meaningful lyrics. However, the songs all work together thanks to the common theme of longing that is present in this album.

The first track, “Saviour Complex” sets the tone for the album. This song has a funky beat with deep lyrics that set the scene and provide context for what the listener is going to hear throughout the rest of the album. The song talks about his past struggles with addiction and trying to rebuild relationships with both his mother and God. This is a sneak peek at the theme of struggle and also the religious allusions present in the majority of the songs on the album.

The second song, “Trouble Always Finds Me” has a groovy, dreamlike vibe. Van Dango’s voice has more range and emotion than the first song, which is paired with a prominent electric guitar and bassline, leaving the listener with a sensational feeling. The lyrics mention the artist feeling trapped in a sticky situation, regretting what he did to get there, and wishing he could go back in time and stop himself from getting to his current position.

“Milk & Honey”, track number three, is an R&B-like song with a different message than the first 2 songs: love. The artist compares his lover to milk and honey, an allusion to the Promised Land in the Bible and all of the prosperity and divinity that comes with it. Later, he compares them to the streams of Lebanon, possibly because their love is similar to water, which is a life source in the barren ecosystem of the Middle East.

The fourth song, “Say You Will”, is also a love song, however, it has a different undertone—one of desperation. The artist is pleading with his lover, asking them to still love him even though he isn’t the best to them. Through the lyrics, the artist makes it apparent that he wants to be the only one in their life and can give them everything they could ever want or need.

“Leave The City”, song number five, is arguably the saddest track on the album. One wouldn’t be able to tell this on first listen though, as van Dango does a great job of hiding the depressing lyrics behind a bright, happy beat. However, the lyrics are nothing short of devastating, with the artist wishing he could leave everything and everyone behind to be able to free himself from the shackles of reality, love, and pain.

The sixth track, “Blowing Away”, is a dreamlike song with a slow, almost 80s-type synthesizer in the background. The lyrics match the otherworldly vibe of the beat with mentions of the ephemera of life and longing for escape from the world into the heavens above. This song talks about the unimportance of Earth and how eternal life with God is what really matters.

Song number seven, “Comedown King”, provides a shift in the vibe of the album. This track is slower, with less R&B influences and more folk influences. With a melancholic, drawling voice, the artist sings about being tired of disappointing his lover and is asking for forgiveness for his past behavior. The lyrics even mention getting clean for them in order to be better for them despite his rocky past.

The last song on the album, “Don’t Cry (It’s Just Goodnight)”, continues with the folk influences, even leaning more into a country vibe. There is even an acoustic guitar present, which is a huge contrast from the beginning of the album with its chill, groovy beats. With this song, the artist shows the listener that he is ready for death, and that he actually cannot wait to be reunited with the Lord. This shows a lot of personal growth in the artist, as accepting death is no easy feat.

The contrast between the mellow, dreamlike beats and the melancholic, meaningful lyrics makes this album a listening experience like no other. Throughout the album, van Dango makes religious allusions, which is no surprise because he is from South Africa, a country with a large Christian population. When you pair this with the relatable lyrics that portray themes of struggle, love, and existentialism, you get a well-rounded album with the ability to make you reflect on your whole life. I give this album 4.7 out of 5 stars and I highly recommend giving it a listen.