Five albums in, Ken Yates thinks he may have nailed it with Total Cinema (Tone Tree)—and we tend to agree. With help from award-winning producer Dan Ledwell, the London, Ontario, singer/songwriter has finally assembled the fully operational musical vehicle for delivering his subtle, meticulously observed insights into the post-millennial human condition. He came awfully close with 2023’s “Cerulean”, an album that connected with American critics, if not a ton of listeners. But while that LP tailed off into formula toward the end, “Total Cinema” never loses its creative momentum, thanks to a surplus of memorable melodies that often hinge on Yates’ inventive guitar leads.
Yates says With “Total Cinema“, I felt like I had this depth of new experiences to draw inspiration from. From grief and cynicism, to love and gratitude, there was a clarity to writing these songs I’ve never had before. I think that comes from experiencing and feeling things my younger self wouldn’t have been able to articulate.
Yates’ boyish delivery has something in common with Elliott Smith’s, in the way it makes vulnerability feel so approachable—even charismatic. As with “Cerulean“, lead vocals are often doubled on “Total Cinema“, which adds another dynamic to the album’s living, breathing bed of sound.
New album “Total Cinema” out June 6th:
The Fat Angel Sings 