A Day in a Yellow Beat

A Day in a Yellow Beat, released in 2020, represents a significant evolution for Yellow Days (George van den Broek). Moving away from the 'indie-soul' label of his debut, this 23-track project was recorded primarily in Los Angeles and features a high level of collaborative musicianship, including contributions from jazz luminaries like Nick Walters and Tom Misch. The album is structured as a sonic collage, interspersed with interludes and spoken word snippets that create a narrative of self-discovery and existential reflection. Sonically, it leans heavily into the 'Yellow Beat' - a self-coined term for his blend of Ray Charles-inspired soul and Thundercat-esque fusion. Critics noted the ambitious scale of the project, praising its rich production and the maturity of van den Broek's songwriting, while acknowledging its daunting runtime. It stands as his most technically proficient and stylistically diverse work to date.