England’s Yuck put out one of my favorite albums of 2011 (they were named one of our Best New Bands that year, too). As much as I loved that album, though, I wondered (and continue to wonder) how they’d follow it up: It was such a perfect synthesis of ’90s indie-rock influences that it felt both hopelessly out of time and totally singular. To replicate those sounds would suggest Yuck were capable of little more than pastiche; on the other hand, how does any band so firmly lodged in the past find a way to evolve naturally when the broader musical culture has already undergone those evolutionary steps? Yuck are good enough to pull it off, to be sure, but still, it’s not easy. Anyway, it just maybe got a little bit harder. According to a status update on the band’s Facebook page, frontman Daniel Blumberg has parted ways with Yuck, who are about to begin recording their sophomore album. Says the band:

What’s up! Lots of new things have been happening in Yuck world. We’re getting ready to go to New York this week to record our 2nd album! Unfortunately, Daniel won’t be joining us as he’s decided to focus on other things. However, new music, new tour dates, and bigger afros will be coming very soon. So get ready. GET. READY.

I’m not sure how that development will affect Yuck. (Generally speaking, losing a frontperson seems to me a tough blow, but who knows?) It makes me all the more curious about the second Yuck record, if perhaps a couple notches less confident in its prospects. I’d be happy to have them blow away my expectations, though.