If there’s a band at the moment having as a lot enjoyable as Royel Otis, we’re but to search out them. Australian duo Royel Madden and Otis Pavlovic have constructed a reputation for themselves with energetic guitar-pop that by no means tries to take itself too severely, and now they’ve swapped Sydney for south London to develop into one of many few non-UK acts to work with in-demand producer Dan Carey [Wet Leg, Foals]. The end result, their debut album ‘Pratts & Ache’, is each bit the ray of sunshine we’ve come to anticipate from the pair behind the infectious, Ardour Pit-like hit ‘Oysters In My Pocket’.
On the floor, little has modified inside their sound. Right here, Pavlovic’s vocals are as breezy as ever, whereas Madden’s fluid bass grooves hold the whole lot flowing. Standout ‘Sonic Blue’ is as catchy as something the NME 100 graduates have put out earlier than. But dig beneath the album’s floor – the transient shrieks of distortion in ‘Adored’; the ramshackle piano protecting rhythm in ‘Velvet’ – and you’ll see the pair pushing past their consolation zone.
A few of these efforts are extra apparent than others. “For now we’ll keep awake / However by now it’s all the identical,” sings Pavlovic on ‘Molly’, which paints whole days going by in a drug-sludged haze. There’s nothing else on the album prefer it, however different tracks mix outdated and new in subtler methods. ‘Fried Rice’ is an uplifting indie anthem, however its crescendos and lyrics (“You ain’t by no means gonna let me go away”) are achingly fairly, and the music is arguably Royel Otis’ highest up to now.
There’s a way of journey to the entire album – ‘Foam’ takes a leaf from MGMT’s ‘Congratulations’-era psychedelic pop, whereas the extra guitar-driven ‘Daisy Chain’ sounds nearer to Dinosaur Jr. But the duo take a look at these waters with out dropping the sense of enjoyable they began with. ‘Huge Ciggie’ depicts dramatic car-crash deaths, nevertheless it does so in remarkably upbeat vogue whereas Carey’s 11-year-old nephew performs the drums within the background.
Although ‘Pratts & Ache’ will launch in the midst of a dreary February, Royel Otis might have to attend a couple of months for his or her achievement to be correctly recognised. That is an album destined for pageant season greatness – for cool-breeze drives, heat summer time events, and late-night singalongs.
Again residence in Sydney, the place temperatures will hit a balmy 26° this month, Royel Otis are already embracing that carefree mindset. However when sunny days begin to attain the remainder of the world once more, it’s straightforward to think about the band lastly hitting the mainstream with this elegant debut.
Particulars
- Launch date: February 16
- Report label: Ourness
