London-based indie-pop duo Summer Camp have produced a sublime second album, one that marks a step away from the conceptual nature of its predecessor. It’s a light, memorable listen, the band’s pop sensibilities filtering freely through sprightly and exciting compositions. Summer Camp is playtime for these young popsmiths – and, in their gleeful amalgamation of 60s girl-group and 80s synthpop trends, they never cease to satisfy. Funky gem Fresh brims with disco-tinged nostalgia, making for an infectious first single. Its follow-up, cutesy sing-song inclusion Crazy, proves catchy in its own right.
Unusually, it’s the second-half of Summer Camp that shines brightest. Everything Has Changed emerges a key highlight, Elizabeth Sankey’s silver-tongued anxiety laid atop a delectable groove. Phone Call, a bittersweet confessional, exudes an unprecedented cool. Pink Summer seals the deal on an intensely likeable and immediate pop record, its heavenly harmonies contributing to a stunning finale.
Summer Camp owes its charm to its accessibility. Its meditations upon love and loss are easy to latch onto. On this occasion, Sankey and Warmsley have thrown heart into the mix. Whereas Welcome To Condale entertained pure fiction, this self-titled release is decidedly less guarded, born from honesty and personal experience. Summer Camp never feels weighed down by melodrama or an excess of sentiment, either. Again, it’s the duo’s indie-pop aesthetic, peppy and polished to perfection that culminates in expert balance. Track this one down: Summer Camp may yet rank among the finest indie-pop records of the year.
BY NICK MASON
Best track:Fresh
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: TWENTY ONE, MYSTERY JETS, KING CON, ALEX WINSTON
In a word: Exciting
