Caribou - Suddenly

After releasing ‘Our Love’ in 2014, Caribou, aka Dan Snaith has returned with an album concerned with family and the changes we go through as these relationships evolve.

Musically, it is the most diverse record of Dan’s to date, seeing him push his own vocals to the forefront as on elliptical opener ‘Sister’. The track alludes to evolving family relationships with a stark clarity over graceful synths. It’s a bewitching start and a sign that ‘Suddenly’ is going to forego the slightly cheesy euphoria of ‘Our Love’.

‘You And I’ continues the vocal driven approach of ‘Sister’ in a more traditional song structure which is splintered by gloriously disruptive samples in the chorus. ‘Suddenly’ embraces samples more than Caribou has done previously, ‘Sunny’s Time’ unleashes one that is so well timed it’s a marvel.

There are still elements of his old sound as displayed on the danceable ‘Never Come Back’- one sure to resonate during the festival season. However, it’s in the more risky numbers that the album shines. ‘Like I Loved You’ is a track on paper that shouldn’t work: wonky pitch shifted guitars soloing over skittering Radiohead-esque rhythms but is truly a treat.

One of the only low points is ‘Ravi’, a track that feels a little bit contrite and tailor-made for the gap-year massive. It’s particularly jarring as it comes after the tranquil dream of ‘Magpie’. Fret not though, the this is a minor blip on a record that swings towards the sensational and barely misses. ‘Suddenly’ is a treat and continues Caribou’s knack of releasing albums that are both accessible and explorative.