Once a particular combination to something proves successful, many rush to recreate the same result but in a slightly different way. Think along the lines of magicians, or in this case – a male/female pop group. There have been so many husband & wife or brother & sister types that there doesn’t seem to be any room left for originality to break through. So this reviewer found it hard to get excited when the latest offering from Mates Of State popped through the letterbox.
Yes, their last two albums were quite delightful, but the question had to be asked about whether they could come back with something fresh sounding. Thankfully they have and this album is probably their best yet. The gleeful streak that has become as recognisable with them as the symmetry of their roles within the band is alive and well on this ten-track album. Scratch the surface on this one though and there is a lot more to uncover. Romantic tales of domesticity run parallel with intimate nuggets of a lovelorn nature on what is a record that skips along at the speed of a fluttering heartbeat.
The opening song Get Better starts off at a high pace with twinned-vocals working in unison with marauding drums and driving keyboards. It is a chaotic beginning to an indie-pop record, but one that sets it all up for the other tracks to follow suit. Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel are well past the stage of trying to find their sound or to experiment within constricted boundaries. On this album, which is their fifth overall, they dive straight into the deep end and challenge the listener to keep up as they take off on their latest adventure.
There is a lot to like about this album, from the seductive harmonies to the clever lyrics, and even though it mightened pack that killer blow to bowl you over, it does exactly what it says on the tin and gives you a modern take on the male/female combo that veers towards familiar indie pop territory.
