Wampire

Curiosity
Polyvinyl

Curiosity is the enticing and genre-defying debut album from Portland duo Wampire. Recent single The Hearse  is packed with energy and punch, deploying floating organ sounds that produce wildly addictive pop. Giants carries the same frenetic energy, whilst the pop swagger of Spirit Forest demonstrates that Wampire understands both light and shade.

Serving up sounds from a wide-ranging palette, one of Wampire’s stand-out strengths is the fact that their music is nearly impossible to categorise. Producer Jacob Portrait, of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, creates a hazy mix and a sense of wonder throughout which helps to give the album an air of excitement and unpredictability.

An undoubted highlight is Orchards ; with a delicate melody, the song is set against whistling vocals. The real moment of joy arrives with Trains, a fully formed masterpiece suffused with Motown and glorious chord progressions. It is a charming concoction of pop that defines the album as a whole, culminating in a swirling confection of lustrous energy.

www.wampiremusic.com

Matt Swain