Leon Michels’ eponymous sound factory returns after last year’s incredibly strong Adult Themes. Yeti Season continues in the same sort of Finders Keepers / spy funk direction as Adult Themes, unlocking endless sonic possibilities for Michels and his crew, with hours spent devouring Folkways records and the infusion of more imaginative instrumentation conjuring increasingly tantalizing results. Michels’ signature knock in the drums serves as the fishbone for a delectable prix fixe encompassing the world's obscurest folk and funk traditions; check out “Unathi,” “A La Vida,” “Lesson Learned” and “Last Blast.” Yeti Season isn’t just a collection of intoxicating would-be library music, there’s a story lurking beneath the tape-warped guitars and detuned strings, a story told in the included 50-page children’s book Yeti Season written by accomplished author Francine Prose (Leon’s moms!) and illustrated by El Ohms. Also included is an exclusive 7-inch featuring album track “A La Vida” and an additional El Michels Affair track with The Shacks featuring a reading from Yeti Season by Leon’s daughter Malena; it’s the first release on Big Crown’s new Little Crown sublabel. Turntable Lab exclusive yellow colored vinyl version enclosed in a deluxe outer box, limited to 200 copies, recommended.

• Turntable Lab exclusive
• opaque yellow colored vinyl LP w/ blue colored vinyl 7-inch
• includes 50p 'Yeti Season' children's book written by Francine Prose, illustrated by Omar Juarez
• housed in deluxe outer box
• limited edition of 200
• music label: Big Crown Records 2021
• TTL Editions 043

reviewed by Fusilli Jerry 01/2021