The Wombats

The album kicks off with the sleek and groovy ‘Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want To Come’ released in October last year. It feels like the next step of the evolution of this band; lyrics which are much rawer and honest with thoughtful melodies which sound so carefully crafted.

Moving on to ‘Can’t Say No’ it’s like being transported back to tracks from ‘Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life’ that classic self-assured style the band took off with. Track number 3 brings back even further to the early days of this band’s art but with this fun-futuristic sound, alongside catchy lyrics and this upbeat, undeniable energy.

Similarly, to our opening track, as ‘Gut Punch’ arrives we start to hear the band’s sound move future into their next generation of music with calculated sections of layering that transition from each note to the next seamlessly.

My favourite from the album has to be ‘The World’s Not Out To Get Me, I Am’ opening with this electric riff which is swirling around these gruelling vocals, as the riff builds the tension higher we are plunged into this funky chorus; this one you can picture live, sending a sea of fans flying.

‘Reality Is A Wild Ride’ is another notable mention and packed to the rafters with summery jingles and will note down get the crowds swaying during their sunny festival set.

Working with new producer John Congleton (St Vincent, Wallows, Death Cab for Cutie), Murph lays bare his social discomfort, internal strife, compulsive behaviours and the dilemmas and tribulations of life in his adoptive home Los Angeles, but, there’s also a sense of progress towards confronting, accepting and coping with his issues.

Around two decades into their career the band are at the top of their game - their last album 'Fix yourself, not the world' became their debut #1 album, they're playing their biggest shows ever, including London's O2, and have an ever growing young fan base.