Yak - Pursuit of Momentary Happiness

Few albums in rock 'n' roll history have seen it's creator's obsession veer so close to self-destruction, as London trio Yak's The Pursuit Of Momentary Happiness. For singer, guitarist and driving force Oli Burslem, making his band's second album became about pursuing his artistic vision at the expense of all else, including his own financial security, and mental health. Who else these days invests every single penny available to them into recording, to the point where they become homeless? The result is a rare white-knuckle ride of an album in which his extreme commitment pulsates through every moment - much like Spiritualized's Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space and Tame Impala's Innerspeaker, both of whose creators had a part to play in it's genesis - ranging from the gonzo-fuzz chaos of tracks like "Blinded By The Lies" through to the Roy Orbison-inspired heartbreak of "Words Fail Me."