Mary, Mary, not quite Contrary

Almost two years to the day after they released their critically acclaimed debut, Vampire Weekend have returned with their highly anticipated second album, Contra. 'Contra', meaning 'the opposite' may have been their aim for the sound on this sophomore release, and although their attemps increating a new direction are admirably clear, they've still ocassionally stumbled back into old habits along the way.

This is not necessarily a bad thing. One reason their first album received such attention was due to the African sounding rythmns that pulsate through their tracks; something not often heard in the average indie band. Sounds synonymous with tribal beats and traditional dance-affiliated claps are resonant in the majority of tracks, like a subliminal African thread tying each track together. Vampire Weekend are kings of percussion and they've definitely stepped this element up a notch in their new tracks. Bongo drums and glockenspiels open the first track, Horchata, and new single Cousins is an excited frenzy of bells, violins, drums, cymbals and güiro's (remember those wooden insruments you used to scrape with a stick in primary school? Yeah, them).

Kudos to the boys though, the album does present strong evidence of musical progression aside from an increased attack on the percussion cupboard. Dare I say it, the boys have dropped the prep school demeanor and gone a little bit electro on us. California English still retains the underlying VW sound we all know and love, but quick electric guitar picks and the distortion of lead singer Ezra Koening's voice makes some of his lyrics almost unintelligable. It's maybe not what we expected to hear but I am impressed the band were daring enough to step outside the perimetres and try something totally different to their 'conventional' sound. Album track Taxi Cab also sees the band veer away from their usual short, sharp bursts of energy-filled songs, taking on a much slower pace. The recognisable claps are still there, but instead classical piano and violin and even a harpsichord takes precedence to create a wholly new vibe.

Contra has a definite party semblance, and in some tracks you almost feel like you're dancing in the African desert while the band strum away behind you. They should be commended for successfully retaining their distinctive and individual sound whilst virtually dropping their preppy temperament and venturing into new styles. Their willingness to experiment and progress only reinforces the fact that Vampire Weekend are most certainly more than a one trick percussion pony.

'Contra' is released on 11th January 2010 on XL Recordings

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