Yard Act, the Leeds post-punk band known for sardonic, politically charged lyrics, have released their third album, "You're Gonna Need A Little Music", which sees them adopt a noticeably more melodic and expansive sound. Rather than abandoning their trademark wiry edge, the record channels it into groove, movement and a broader instrumental range, marking a clear step forward in the band's musical development.

Reviewer Sophie Miller highlights tracks such as "New Beginnings" and the title track as evidence of this growth, with producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen (known for work with Beck, Nine Inch Nails and St. Vincent, among others) widening the band's sonic palette with piano and funk- and dance-rock-influenced rhythms. It is the first Yard Act album written by all four members together in the same room, lending it a spontaneity absent from earlier work, while "Thrill of the Chase" is singled out as the strongest track, pairing a relentless rhythm section with some of frontman James Smith's sharpest lyrics.