SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: I YA TOYAH – DRAMA

I YA TOYAH
DRAMA
INDEPENDENT

The new album from the industrial darkwave artist I Ya Toya is the aptly-named DRAMA. The drama is truly high in this 10-song collection, co-produced by I Ya Toyah (a.k.a. Ania Tarnowska) and Walter Flakus of Stabbing Westward.

The production and performance on this album are excellent. The mix is vocal-forward without losing the presence and drive of the instrumentation. Musically, there is a bit of sameness here, but still, there is a freshness within the sound and a singularity of focus, so that each successive track sounds fresh.

The opening track, “Afterlight”, gives the album a strong start, with its driving rhythm and passionate vocals. A positive song about mental health, it is full-on dark matter with instrumental and vocal hooks, and pop sensibilities.

I Ya Toyah has an amazing voice, as evidenced on a number of standout tracks on this album. With its dirty guitar and driving industrial drums, the dangerous urgency of “Panic Room” builds nicely, with melodic variations that keep the listener engaged. The title track, “Drama”, is also strong, punctuated by a sparse vocal, with the artist’s double-tracked vocals in close harmony. Despite the jarring nature of some of the instrumentation, the vocals are warm and intimate, making for interesting juxtaposition.

One need not be strictly an industrial electronic music fan to enjoy I Ya Toyah’s DRAMA. It is the kind of album that opens doors to other interests, and other worlds. While it is easy to be hypnotized by the music and production, DRAMA implores the listener to look inward and outward simultaneously. As a rising star within the industrial genre, I Ya Toyah will certainly open her work up to wider audiences with this album.

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