Vampire Weekend - Contra (XL Recordings) **** (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Vampire Weekend - Contra (XL Recordings) ****

11:56am Friday 29th January 2010

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AS IRRITATING as they are (and that’s got as much to do with their posh boy clothes and haircuts as anything), Vampire Weekend hit the right spot when it comes to constructing a tune.

Managing to find common ground between Afropop guitars, baile funk bass, reggaetron drums and Californian punk ska – and even though they still sound enslaved to Paul Simon’s Graceland (which should be a kiss of death, but somehow isn’t) – this second album adds depth and flavour to the mix.

The Clash is an obvious touchstone and VW make full use of the Westway wonders’ back pages on the bittersweet closing brace Diplomat’s Son and I Think Ur a Contra.

The album is probably every bit as brainy as it sounds and, strangely, there’s nothing wrong with that.

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