Sub Pop Records delivered another fantastic alternative pop album with THUMPERS’ Galore. A duo based out of London and made up of Marcus Pepperell and John Hamson Jr., THUMPERS has been touring since 2012, releasing two EPs and singles along the way.
THUMPERS does not waste any time on Galore, beginning with the big sounds of “Marvel.” We hear all of THUMPERS’ primary themes; their female back up vocals, big drums driving the beat that make you dance in your chair, and the quiet but pleasing synthesizer undertones. For only having two band members, THUMPERS impresses with their ability to produce sound like a band of ten musicians.
We continue to groove through Galore with the two singles of the album, “Sound of Screams” and “Unkinder (A Tougher Love).” Both songs have upbeat rhythms and emulate the sound of bands like Ra Ra Riot and The 1975. Again, the synthesizer and drums drive these tracks while the vocals hum themes of love and rebellious youth.
“Now We Are Sixteen” slows down Galore after the dizzying first five tracks. A slower beat mixed with soft lyrics and a wobbling synth wandering in the background makes for a beautiful love song about being too young to care about the responsibilities that come with age, but old enough to know that warm summer nights are not to be wasted.
After four more tracks of unique, synthesized glory, Galore comes to a close with the brokenhearted ballad of “Running Rope,” building up to our final song, “Together Now.” In one last hurrah, THUMPERS proclaims "I’m still standing here," and hopefully they will be for long into the future.
It is hard to find a downside of Galore, as all songs have a positive, ethereal vibe that makes criticism difficult. THUMPERS is the type of band that is hard not to dance to, making any walk home from class or pre-test jam session unique and uplifting.
Galore is an overall wowing debut album for a band that is relatively unknown in the States. Pepperell and Hamson may have a difficult time recreating this album in a live venue, but if THUMPERS is touring anywhere in the area, I suggest being in attendance and dancing your brains out.
Rating: A
