Vampire Weekend: 'Contra'

There is something disconcerting about listening to an array of songs perfect for luxuriating on a beach in summer in the middle of January. Vampire Weekend have now done this twice as the New York City natives release their sophomore release in response to their hugely successful eponymous debut two years ago. As with its predecessor ‘Contra’ is produced by the bands keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij. However, whereas their first release combined Afro-pop with an indie sound, their new offering attempts to be even more ambitious by broadening their musical palette to include; reggae, ska, synth pop, calypso and even rockabilly. What results is a rather complicated affair and yields a mix bag of songs. However, the overall feel is sufficiently cohesive as an album.

Mixing African elements into mainstream western music is nothing new, Peter Gabriel has made a living out of it, Paul Simon did it amazingly well with ’Graceland’, and more recently Daman Albarn has done the same. Therefore this is not a groundbreaking album. However, with ‘Contra’ there is enough difference to signal progression away from just African elements but does that make it any better?

Tracks such as ‘Diplomat’s Son’ signal a resounding yes, here they demonstrate their ability by mixing an M.I.A sample into a soft laidback Calypso number. Also, ‘White Sky’ is similar to something one would find on ‘Graceland’ but with a more modern take on it. Other highlights are the dance-floor inspired ‘Taxi Cab’ and synth heavy ‘Rain’. ‘Cousins’ with its frantic rockabilly tempo is also a great demonstration of their abilities. Nonetheless, probably the most worthy of praise is ‘I Think UR a Contra’ which somehow uses a Nicaraguan Counter-revolutionary movement as a metaphor for a failed relationship.

However, other songs such as ‘California English’ and its use of vocal auto tune just feel dated. Even worse is ‘Holiday’ which is bordering annoying. I always find it hard to take ska seriously without first devouring half a bottle of vodka. There is also the impression that the band is rather pretentious. There lyrics are not very accessible and anyone who rhymes Horchata with balaclava is just showing off. They are intelligent and they want you to know it which may render them being seen as elitist. There is nothing wrong with intelligent music but when it comes off as trying to hard there could be complications. Also, despite the array of genres and instruments some of the songs feel vapid.

Therefore, this is not a great album but it is certainly half a good album at least and clearly demonstrates potential for better things to come. It’s hard to see where the band goes from here but greatness may very well impose itself on them in the future.