Album Review: The Rubens - LO LA RU

LO LA RU is the third album from Menangle five-piece The Rubens. Working with Wilder Zoby and Lil' Shalimar (who co-produced Run The Jewels 3) and with an aim to deliver the album they've always wanted to make, The Rubens expand on and bring the hip hop and R&B elements they touched on in previous releases to the forefront.

LO LA RU is full of fun, soul-injected rock tracks like building, piano-driven opener Million Man with its hint of gospel, and the sonically and lyrically captivating I Know. Sam Margin's soulful, expressive voice lifts often simplistic and fairly stripped-back instrumentals to deliver catchy hook after catchy hook (God Forgot, Casper, Soso).

Never Ever brings the only feature on the album, with Melbourne singer-songwriter Sarah Aarons, who wrote Zedd and Alessia Cara's global hit Stay, lending her vocals and co-writing to the track. Aarons' feature on this emotive and refreshingly unique song marks the first time the band have collaborated with another artist, with Margin sharing lead vocals.

The Rubens set the bar high with their previous album, which saw title track Hoops top the triple j Hottest 100, but the band make a good attempt to match it with their follow-up.