Teaming up with acclaimed composer and producer Matthew Herbert​ on their debut album, Ilk playfully explored the space in which found-sound recordings and infectious pop music coexist. Ilk return to follow up their debut album with the Y U R M X ep of two new original tracks and a collection of remixes.
Ilk comprises Bob Tollast​ (vocals, bass, guitar), Olly Puglisi​ (guitar, bass, SPD sampler, backing vocals) and Tom Fisher​ (MPC sampler, keys, bass, backing vocals).
As members of Laurel Collective ​– alongside Mercury Award-winning producer Charlie Andrew (Alt J) – Puglisi and Tollast are also co-founders of In the Woods festival​. Under the name Action Pyramid​, Fisher’s work as a sound artist has featured as installations and headphone pieces at the Tate Modern, Tate Britain and Iceland's Husavik Whale Museum.
On the ‘Y U R M X’ ep the sparking opener ‘BITS’ echoes the collage pop of Animal Collective and the musical playfulness of the likes of Tune Yards and Deerhoof. Later on ‘Guido Mescalito’ opens with a wonky haze of detuned guitars before settling into a beautifully satisfying broken rhythm of claps and vocals.
An assembly of striking remixes feature on the release including Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label resident Hello Skinny​, ​drummer for bands including Sons Of Kemet, Mulatu Astatke and Owiny Sigoma Band. Crewdson​’s remix of ‘Gilgamesh’ introduces some deeply emotive saxophone lines layered across a throbbing slow house 4/4 kick. Next up is Raisa K​ mostly known for being one third of Micachu & The Shapes but has worked with the likes of DELS, Kwes and The Invisible. Rounding up the ep is man of the moment Coby Sey​ the co-founder of ‘Curl’ collective alongside Mica Levi and remixer of the duo Mount Kimbie.


“This ode to space and time is a glorious introduction to a sci-fi world of epic proportions”
The Line of Best Fit

“Blending the jittery pop of Animal Collective with the distorted thumb pianos of Konono No 1, ‘Y U’ is the bracing sound of a band who seem to be refreshingly full of ideas”
The Monitors

“Unusual art-pop stylings fuelled by jittery electronics...
A wonderfully visual quality, the undulating vocals lapping across your speakers like little waves rolling across a beach”
Clash

“Gorgeous”
Tom Ravenscroft, BBC 6 Music