This Melbourne via Cape Town band are little known in their home country, although they have gained far wider recognition overseas due to acclaim from international press.
Their 2010 debut album, Gold On Gold, did little to hide their Hot Chip influences and despite their lack of originality, the album was a refreshing take on the synth-led pop genre.
Almost three years later, the follow up continues in a similar vein. Heirs & Graces is no wild form of experimentation or a musical revelation. What it is though, is undeniably brilliant pop music.
Guest singer Chela almost fits like an original member of the band on lead single ‘Heartbreak, the infectious track taking its cues from 90s indie pop.
But the five-piece explore other decades and their genre tropes with ‘Cold Rain’, ‘Nastassja’, and ‘Everything You Wanted’ being decidedly more 80s.
Their second album brings forward a natural progression from their debut. The vocals are sleeker and the sound is a little more crisp.
While ‘Get Loose’, with its heavy synth sound is one of the unmistakable pop gems of the record, Clubfeet go tropical on ‘Acapulco’ and ‘Follow Me Down’.
Heirs & Graces once again demonstrates what Clubfeet are good at. Still at the head of the synth pack, their music might sound familiar, but it is a very good example of what pop music should be: Smart, refreshing and lively.
Clubfeet’s sophomore release has all the right components to grow their international fan base and garner them the local recognition that they deserve.
