Blog: Shout and Twist

Vampire Weekend 'Contra' (XL) The trouble with assembling a great debut album is that ensuing the sell-out academy jaunts, afro-pop-enriching delirium and total sovereignty over untold end-of-year lists, the follow-up must be no less than equally significant. For NY's Vampire Weekend, anticipation is loftier than Burj Dubai - and they've only themselves to condemn. Now, it should be warned that such distressing shivers of panic do present themselves following the first few spins. Nevertheless - and thank fuck there's a nevertheless - what originally sinks in as unsociable beat reggae and awkward blistering is in [...]