Wampire: Curiosity

The Portland, Oregon-based duo of Eric Phipps and Rocky Tinder have been making music together since their schooldays, and on the evidence of this debut, they haven’t lost any of the youthful joy that characterised those first live house-party performances. Infectious electro-pop is the order of the day, as if the MGMT boys kidnapped Youth Lagoon and subsequently crashed Vampire Weekend’s party with a Casio keyboard, a gallon of whiskey and a willingness to dance like nobody’s watching.
Opener and debut single, ‘The Hearse’ leaves one hell of a first impression, riding in on waves of synths and driving rhythms that defy you not to tap a bodily part in time. Countless listens later, I’ve no idea if the lyrics actually make any reference to the funereal vehicle of the title, but when it’s this bloody catchy, who cares?
The other eight tracks veer from the layered harmonies of ‘Orchards’ to the trippy  synth-funk of ‘Spirit Forest’; the insistent electro-clash of ‘Giants’ to the slo-motown groove of ‘Trains’ and the full-on organ-punk of ‘I Can’t See Why’.
They may sound like uneasy bedfellows, but the superb ‘Snacks’ is equal parts Ennio Morricone and The Jam, shot through with Wurlitzer licks, ‘Outta Money’ is a first cousin of Girls’ brilliant ‘Laura’, while the closing ‘Magic Light’ bookends the album with Phipps’ sleazy, squelchy call to bed that could be an out-take from Flight Of The Conchords were it not so goddamn wonderful. 
Playful, fun and as infectious as a plague-ridden rat in the dark ages, Curiosity is serious music made by people who don’t take themselves too seriously.

Key Track: 'The Hearse'