Single Review: I Love You

I Love You is the second solo release from Yann Le Dorre, formally a mainstay in the Poneke-based ‘gutter folk’ outfit Yolk.

I Love You a follows a path described by previous release Missed as clear development from the work Le Dorre has done in Yolk- removed is the extra instrumentation in favour of a baritone voice set in a minimalist musical backing. I Love You follows a similarly dark lyrical path which is characterised by some striking lines like “I hope to die/ hung by your thighs” with Le Dorre’s languid vocal delivery conveying a sense of intensity and ennui. Quite an interesting blend.

Matching lyrics to melody means that there are necessary considerations for editing, and Le Dorre tends to favour lyrical impact rather than the melodic. Structurally, then, the song takes almost a poetic approach, and at times it feels like the lyrical content overpowers melodic possibilities.

Stripped down , stark, and lyrically striking, I Love You is very much a distillation of Yann Le Dorre’s work in Yolk down to its essential elements, and there is a quiet power in this song.