Mas Ysa - Worth

Mas Ysa’s song titles read like the fridge magnets of someone up-to-their-neck in things. ‘Why’, ‘Shame’, ‘Years’ and the most important one, ‘Worth’. Where is the worth, as a more profound will.i.am might ponder. This is one of the questions Thomas Arsenault goes in search for. Under the surface his debut - spanning nine tracks - is a deep, emotional release. In actual fact it’s been (with tongues firmly in cheek) rendered part of an emo revival in some quarters. Scoff all you like but it’s not total nonsense.

On record, Arsenault - a well-travelled, Montreal born, Brooklyn residing musician - goes apeshit on a microphone at every opportunity. His songs are like synth-led avalanches. Vocals aren’t that far away from Justin Vernon, although if anything Mas Ysa is keener to get to the point. Instead of withering away with cooey descriptors, he’ll inject humour and brutally plain questions. ‘Worth’ is at once industrial, sombre and yes, maybe even a little emo. There’s thumping techno in ‘Why’, placed against chiming chords that channel Coldplay. That might sound like the next step in Avicii’s tortuous five year plan, but it’s actually a positive thing. ‘Worth’ likes going to desperate measures. This is a maddened work that deals with its own conscience; a debut grappling with heavy topics and conquering them.