Psapp: The Camel's Back (Domino)

15:03 | Thursday September 4, 2008

Psapp are a rare band, odd in lots of ways. They manage to keep the electronica cognoscenti amused with their intricate production and the pop crowd happy with their irresistible hooks. Their previous album Tiger, My Friend was a classic in its genre and firmly established them as a band to watch.

It seems things took a rather dark turn after that for the duo (Carim Classman and Galia Durant), and this their third album was the first to be made in the spotlight with the weight of expectation hanging over proceedings.

They should not have worried though, The Camel’s Back is an absolute triumph. The quirks and stylistic touches remain, but they are delivered with new confidence and maturity.

There is a sense that all the difficulties that surrounded the album's gestation has resulted in the duo stepping outside of their comfort zone and pushing their sounds and ideas further than ever before.

Part Like Waves is a good example of this fresh approach, where the Psapp of old would have delivered the song over rickety beats and cheap keyboards now there is added orchestration and layers and layers of vocal harmonies that swoop and soar.

That’s not to say that the band have lost their intimacy. Title track The Camel’s Back is a beautiful lo-fi lament, and Screws is a tingle-inducing piano ballad.

And forthcoming single The Monster Song (November 3) is the sort of song which can change the course of a band's career, being closest the duo have come to a straight-up pop hit.

Psapp have always existed in a world of their own, but their third album has made this world more accessible, appealing and fun than ever before.