Austin Sound

Since first dropping their self-released eponymous debut in 2007, Yellow Fever has been hot on the Austin scene, but their recording output, and even their presence playing live, has seemed somewhat sporadic and confined to intermittent bursts. Now teamed with the Vivian Girls to release the first album on their label Wild World, Yellow Fever has hopefully found footing that can take their minimalist psych-pop to the next level. That being said, for fans that have been following band, their official debut LP just retreads earlier released material, which while nice to finally have compiled on a single disc, is certainly intended to serve primarily as the band’s proper introduction to the rest of the world outside of Austin.

Whoa! Welcome back Yellow Fever! We know that Swine Flu has been all the rage this year, but for our money, no disease is dreamier than Yellow Fever. Ok, Ok, enough with the sickness puns. Still, it’s seemed that the local stripped down poppers have been running incognito for a while as Jennifer Moore and Adam Jones figure out what they’re doing - guess they figured it out. They spent this summer recording and will be dropping their debut LP (yeah, we were a little surprised to realize that they hadn’t ever released a proper album, too) as the first outside release on the Vivian Girls’ Wild World label come December 1. First order of business? Some new promo shots, because we really don’t want to have to post this picture again. (Actually, we probably will anyway, because it’s hilarious). The tracklist features mostly songs familiar from their past singles and EPs, but ones we won’t mind revisiting like “Psychedelic,” “Ratcatcher,” and “Donovan.” Scope the full tracklist below, and download “Hellfire” from the new self-titled album.

It’s the little things that kill with Austin’s Yellow Fever. The infectious pop trio’s toxic combination of minimal arrangements and vocal harmonies leaves listeners experiencing various degrees of euphoria. Guitarist Jennifer Moore, who also performs in the 60’s-inspired girl group Carrots, the Pinecombs, and Voxtrot, and bassist Isabel Martin, formerly of Teenage Dog, come across like the daughters of the Mommas and the Pappas, free-spirited sisters who spent their teenage years singing together in front of bathroom mirrors while holding hairdryers and combs. Their vocals are, in fact, their most effective and inviting instrument. So effective that little else about the group’s self-titled limited-edition EP (81/240), which was recorded and mixed at the home of drummer Adam Jones, who used to handle percussion for Basic and Care Bear Crew, seems to matter.

It’s difficult not to immediately fall in love with Yellow Fever. Their quirky but earnest minimal pop has all the charm and bounce of K Records in the 1980’s. In fact, given the myriad of projects that the trio has their hands in (see below), that collaborative atmosphere inspired by the Northwest twee/punk underground offers an apt analogy. With disarmingly straightforward lyrics like “The cutest boy I ever saw / Was sipping cider through a straw” (“Cutest”) or their sweetly bopping ode to Donovan, the group begs the question: “Why won’t you recognize how psychedelic I am / And love me?” (“Psychedelic”). Yellow Fever will be headlining this Saturday at the Mohawk for Bliss Out II, featuring the wonderfully hazed and dazed lineup of For Those Who Know, The Fiction and Skiesfalling. Let the euphoria ensue!

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Despite the fact that it was Halloween weekend in a college town, Emo’s was packed with a crowd of bloodthirsty indie rock fans. Upon arriving at the typically unthinkable hour of 8pm I was greeted by a line of fans at the door for the outside stage of Emo’s. Dress ranged from homemade Voxtrot t-shirts to “hipster casual” to Santa Claus costumes.

The early show started late at 9:30 PM with local act Yellow Fever. The band features Jennifer Moore of Voxtrot and Isabel Martin along with drummer Adam Jones. Yellow Fever couldn’t seem to sit still, switching up instruments for the first few songs. Calling on the indie pop gods for inspiration, Yellow Fever caused audience members to recall bands such as the Beat Happening with their straightforward lyrics and simple yet catchy melodies. Without too much talk, the band played flawlessly through almost every song on their recently self-released and adorably packaged 20 minute long CD-R.