I have a confession- Vampire Weekend are one of my favourite bands, and yet I wasn't sure I wanted this album to come out. It's that "difficult second album," you know? It is something new, and while new can be oh so good, it can also be terrifying and can change things forever. But I need not have worried, as while Contra is not as instant as the self titled debut from this New York foursome, it has not been off my iPod for long since I was given it to review.
I was slightly worried on hearing album opener "Horchata" that the band had not progressed enough, as it could easily have sat within the first album, but as the album progressed it became clear that the tunes on Contra are, to me, slightly richer and more complicated than the very clean and catchy debut. The album continues with "White Sky" before segueing into "Holiday" which honestly makes me long for a white beach and a cocktail. Next up is "California English" which is one of the most interesting tracks on the album for me, sounding like it is being played too fast on a record player but still hitting home with a catchy and instantly arresting chorus. "Taxi Cab" is said to be inspired by a quote from the great Joe Strummer of the Clash, and it has a more laid back and low key feel than we are used to from this band, showing their range.
Stand out tracks are the wonderful "Diplomat's Son" and the current single "Cousins". "Diplomat's Son" uses a sample of "Hussel" by the wonderful M.I.A. to great effect, and is just one of the tracks which, for me, shows the progression of this album best. Cousins is probably the heaviest song on the album in terms of its bass and instrumentation, and I fail to hear it without wanting to dance.
The quirky clever lyrics, instantly recognisable voice of lead singer Ezra Koenig, and novel and interesting use of unusual instruments that we expect from Vampire Weekend are still very much in attendance here, making this very clearly Vampire Weekend, if a slightly maturer Vampire Weekend. Hopefully it will give them more exposure and a wider fanbase (if the UK midweek chart is anything to go by, they are already on course for a UK number 1 album this weekend).
Look for Contra from XL Recordings today.