Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders — Playmates

In his previous outing, Hurtsville, Jack Ladder resembled Nick Cave with his baritone, gallows humour and tales of love going awry.

Some things have changed though. The producer, Kim Moyes of The Presets, has brought in keyboards. The single, Come on Back This Way, features a cheap-sounding synth. Tracks with guitars high in the mix sometimes miss the mark. Model Worlds succeeds because washes of backwards guitar dovetail with lazy keyboards recalling Lost-era Died Pretty.

And there’s the international guest: Sharon Van Etten sings on two tracks, the single and To Keep and To Be Kept, where a pedal steel takes it towards alt-country.

Overall, Playmates is brighter and less claustrophobic than Hurtsville. You can thank the synth and Van Etten for that. International recognition beckons. (NJ)

3.5/5