Warpaint

It's taken this LA quartet more than three years to follow up their wonderful debut, but these purveyors of gloomy indie-pop have absorbed much in the interlude. Unlike The Fool, Warpaint's second album is a fully collaborative effort, with many songs allegedly shaped during tour soundchecks. That practice gives tracks such as Biggy a hypnotic, jam-based improv style, but it also means that the album's midsection feels a little scattered on the likes of Teese and the upbeat Disco//Very. Conversely, Love Is to Die and Hi slip quickly into deep, persuasive grooves. The latter is an example of Warpaint's newfound minimalist approach, which is further explored on Drive and piano-based closer Son. Even songs that drift aimlessly are anchored by a robust thread of murky alt.rock, demonstrating a definite progression without the band disregarding their strengths. warpaintwarpaint.com
Download: Love Is to Die, Hi